Vice President Mike Pence on Saturday pledged that the U.S. will “continue to hold Russia accountable” even as President Trump looks to revive a wavering relationship between the two countries and re-assured allies of the U.S. commitment to NATO.
Speaking at the Munich Security Conference in Germany, Pence said “in regard to Ukraine, we must hold Russia accountable and demand that they honor the Minsk agreements beginning by deescalating the violence in Eastern Ukraine.”
“The United States will continue to hold Russia accountable,” he added, “even as we search for new common ground, which as you know President Trump believes can be found.”
The vice president pinned blame on the Obama administration’s Iran nuclear deal for empowering Iran to sponsor terrorism in the Middle East when international sanctions were lifted as part of the agreement. But, Pence vowed that Trump is “committed” to ensuring Iran will never get its hands on a nuclear weapon.
On U.S. participation in the NATO alliance and protecting European allies, Pence said the U.S. will “continue to do our part.”
His comments echo that of Defense Secretary Jim Mattis, who speaking at the Munich conference on Friday, said, Trump “has thrown now his full support to NATO.”
But, Pence also repeated concerns often expressed by Trump, dating back to the presidential campaign, that NATO members are not contributing enough in comparison to the U.S.
“The promise to share the burden of our defense has gone unfulfilled for too many for too long and it erodes the very foundation of our alliance,” Pence said. “Let me clear on this point: The president of the United States expects our allies to keep their word, to fulfill this commitment, and for most, that means the time has come to do more.”
Following his speech at the Munich conference, Pence is expected to meet with the Middle Eastern and Eastern European leaders, including Ukraine’s Petro Poroshenko. He also met with German Chancellor Angela Merkel on the sidelines of the event.
Pence will then head to Brussels to meet with European Union leaders Sunday and Monday.
