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U.S. Senate confirms Haley, advocate of Ukraine sovereignty, as U.N. envoy
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WASHINGTON – The Senate confirmed President Donald Trump’s pick to be U.S. ambassador to the United Nations by a decisive 96-to-4 vote on January 24. Gov. Nikki Haley of South Carolina won support from most Democratic senators because she testified that she does not support Republican efforts to slash U.S. funding for the U.N.
Sen. Ben Cardin (D-Md.) said Gov. Haley also said that “Crimea is not Russian” despite Moscow’s annexation of the peninsula in 2014, and she spoke “very strongly” about defending Ukrainian sovereignty. Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Bob Corker (R-Tenn.) said Gov. Haley, the daughter of Indian immigrants, will be a “fierce advocate” for U.S. interests at the U.N.
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The Washington Post reported that during her confirmation hearing on January 18 Gov. Haley said she agrees that Russia invaded and seized Ukrainian territory in 2014 and that U.S. and international sanctions were an appropriate response. She said she would consider additional sanctions, which Mr. Trump has said he may oppose. The New York Times quoted Gov. Haley as saying: “Russia is trying to show their muscle right now.