Talks in Kyiv: Ukraine Has Strong U.S. Support in Deterring Russia from Further Aggression

Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Dmytro Kuleba held talks with U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken during his visit to Ukraine.

The foreign ministers discussed the security situation near the state border and in the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine. Kuleba noted that Russia was trying to destabilise the situation inside Ukraine, in particular to undermine Ukraine’s economic and financial stability, apart from exacerbating security threats.

The U.S. Secretary of State reaffirmed the United States’ strong support for Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, as well as the United States’ readiness to assist Ukraine in countering Russia’s challenges to economic and financial stability.

“The United States is determined to support Ukraine, to deal with the economic challenges posed by Russia,” Blinken said.

The minister thanked the United States for its active joint efforts to consolidate the international coalition to deter Russia from further aggression.

“No decisions about Ukraine without Ukraine is a principle that we discussed during our meeting. And I can see it in political steps that are taken right now.  This is not just a slogan; this is a part of the U.S. foreign policy,” Kuleba noted.

The pair agreed on further steps to implement a comprehensive package to deter Russia from a new wave of aggression in Europe, which includes active diplomacy, tough economic sanctions by the Euro-Atlantic community against Russia, and deepening defence cooperation with Ukraine to strengthen its defensive capabilities.

The parties discussed Russia’s fulfillment of its obligations under the Minsk agreements and decisions of the 2019 Paris summit. Kuleba once again refuted the fake messages of Russian propaganda and assured that Ukraine did not plan any offensive operations.

“And in this conflict, we have only one solution: it will be diplomatic.  If Russia truly aims at political regulation and political solution, it should participate in diplomatic discussion with Normandy Format, with foreign partners, Western partners, and the United States,” the Ukrainian foreign minister stressed, noting that the Russia–Ukraine armed conflict can be solved only when the last Russian soldier leaves certain areas of Donbas and Crimea temporarily occupied by Russia.

The Minister and the Secretary of State paid special attention to further strengthening Ukraine’s defensive capabilities and developing the Armed Forces of Ukraine in accordance with NATO standards.

Natalia Tolub