Michael Pompeo: Why Supporting Israel Stealing Golan Heights From Syria, But Not Supporting Russia Stealing Crimea From Ukraine? “Recognizing Realities On The Ground” Déjà Vu?
Michael Pompeo: Why Supporting Israel Stealing Golan Heights From Syria, But Not Supporting Russia Stealing Crimea From Ukraine?
Trump-Pence Administration Secretary Of State Urges Trump-Vance Administration Secretary Of State To Not Recognize Russian Federation Seizure Of Crimea And Other Areas Of Ukraine
Mr. Pompeo Is Member Of Board Of Directors Of A Ukraine-Based Company With Russian Federation Connectivity
In 2019, Mr. Pompeo “Recognized Realities On The Ground” When Trump-Pence Administration Recognized State Of Israel Ownership Of Golan Heights Which Belongs To Syria
Why Is Government Of Ukraine Silent About The Return Of Golan Heights To Syria When It Wants Governments To Support The Return Of Its Territories?
The Golan Heights is the sovereign territory of the Syrian Arab Republic. Occupied since 1967 by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) at the direction of successive governments of the State of Israel. De facto annexed since 1981. Recognized as territory of the State of Israel in 2019 by the Trump-Pence Administration (2017-2021).
“Time for the United States to fully recognize Israel's sovereignty over the Golan Heights.” Donald Trump, President of the United States, 2019
“The United States recognizes that the Golan Heights are part of the State of Israel.” Donald Trump, President of the United States, 2019
“What the President did with the Golan Heights is recognize the reality on the ground and the security situation necessary for the protection of the Israeli state. It’s that- it’s that simple.” Michael Pompeo, United States Secretary of State, 2019
“Israel gained control of the Golan through its legitimate response to Syrian aggression aimed at Israel’s destruction. Russia has occupied Crimea despite the fact that it has recognized Crimea as part of Ukraine in bilateral agreements and despite its international obligations and commitments, including core OSCE [Organization for Security and Cooperation In Europe] principles.” United States Department of State, 2019
In 2018, the Trump-Pence Administration issued the Crimea Declaration within which the Trump-Pence Administration rejected claims by the government of the Russian Federation on territory captured by force within the internationally-recognized boundaries of Ukraine.
“Russia, through its 2014 invasion of Ukraine and its attempted annexation of Crimea, sought to undermine a bedrock international principle shared by democratic states: that no country can change the borders of another by force. The states of the world, including Russia, agreed to this principle in the United Nations Charter, pledging to refrain from the threat or use of force against the territorial integrity or political independence of any state.”
On 31 May 2025 at the Black Sea Security Forum in the city of Odesa, Ukraine, Michael Pompeo, United States Secretary of State (2018-2021), said the Trump-Vance Administration (2025-2029) should not recognize the government of the Russian Federation’s sovereignty of the Crimea Peninsula nor any other territory located within the internationally-recognized 2014 boundaries of Ukraine.
Such recognition would be “a mistake of epic proportions… I get the frustration … I’m not naive about what’s physically possible in this moment, but that doesn’t mean one should go and say, 'and we are giving up for all time.’ This is one of the things I hope to communicate.” Michael Pompeo
Michael Pompeo was a member of the United States House of Representatives (Kansas, 4th District) from 2011 to 2017. During the Trump-Pence Administration, Mr. Pompeo was Director of the Central Intelligence Agency (2017 to 2018) and United States Secretary of State (2018 to 2021).
“Crimea will stay with Russia. And (President Volodymyr) Zelensky understands that, and everybody understands that it’s been with them for a long time.” Donald Trump, President of the United States (2025-2029)
“There are many in my party, the Republican party, that have disappointed me deeply and have said things that are inconsistent with what I think are the deep American interests that we have here. But I think they all also know, that, in the end, there’s no walking away from this for the United States.” Michael Pompeo
In January 2024, Mr. Pompeo visited Ukraine. Reported meeting Andriy Yermak, a former film producer serving as head of the office of the president of Ukraine- who many believe is “the power holding the throne.”
In November 2023, Mr. Pompeo appointed “independent non-executive director” of Kyiv, Ukraine-based Kyivstar, a telecommunications company with Russian federation connectivity.
November 2023: “[Amsterdam, Netherlands-based] VEON, Ltd., Welcomes Former U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo to Kyivstar Board of Directors. On 14 November 2023, VEON announced that former U.S. Secretary of State Michael R. Pompeo will join the Board of Directors of VEON’s wholly-owned Ukrainian subsidiary Kyivstar as an independent non-executive director in his capacity as a Partner of Impact Investments, a newly established US-based strategic and financial advisory and investment firm which seeks to develop long-term partnerships with the world’s leading companies across a range of industries and geographies. In addition, VEON Group CEO Kaan Terzioglu has been appointed as Chair of the Kyivstar Board of Directors.
In April 2023, Mr. Pompeo was first undeclared candidate for 2024 Republican Party presidential nomination to visit Ukraine; received audience with Volodymyr Zelensky, President of Ukraine (2019-2024; term extended due to imposition of martial law in 2022).
A long rhetorical journey from a National Public Radio (NPR) interview in advance of a visit to Ukraine when then Secretary of State Pompeo was quoted: “do you think Americans care about Ukraine?” [Reporter] Kelly said, adding that “he used the f-word in that sentence and many others.”
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