UA
FR
DEMinister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Dmytro Kuleba met with U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken during a working visit to Brussels on 13 April.
The chiefs of Ukrainian and U.S. diplomacy discussed in detail all aspects of Russia’s escalation ongoing in the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine, along the Ukrainian-Russian border, and in the information space.
“Russia is pulling troops not just to the border with Ukraine, but in fact to the border of the democratic world. There is no democracy beyond it, thousands of kilometres to the north and east. In fact, Ukraine has been defending itself and the democratic world from the aggression of authoritarian Russia for more than seven years already,” Kuleba said.
The Secretary of State assured that the United States continued to stand firm on the side of Ukraine in its opposition to Russian aggression and the struggle to restore its sovereignty and territorial integrity.
The parties agreed on the need to make joint efforts to deter Moscow from further escalation and any military adventures and discussed a number of practical steps in this area.
The officials paid special attention to efficient ways to deepen military-political cooperation and expand the US–Ukraine strategic partnership.
Kuleba and Blinken underscored that Moscow should immediately stop provocations, reduce tensions on the border, and reaffirm its commitment to the ceasefire in eastern Ukraine. The U.S. Secretary of State also praised Ukraine’s wisdom and prudence in the current situation.
The diplomats discussed ways to more actively involve the United States in the process of political and diplomatic settlement of the Russian-Ukrainian armed conflict.
Kuleba and Blinken touched upon further internal transformations of Ukraine, in particular those necessary for joining NATO.
Natalia Tolub
