U.S. Official Cites 'Paramount Importance' Of Military Relationship With Ukraine
According to RFE/RL, The current U.S. administration is eager to deepen and strengthen ties with Ukraine, as the two countries' military relationship is of "paramount importance" for Kyiv's establishing a closer relationship with NATO, a senior State Department official has told RFE/RL.
U.S. State Department Counselor Derek Chollet also said there would be "a lot of mutual interest at stake" when the U.S. and Ukrainian presidents meet at the White House, a visit that Washington on July 21 announced would take place on August 30.
Chollet was in Kyiv on July 21 to discuss ongoing U.S. support for Ukraine, efforts to counter Russian actions in the region, and economic and anti-corruption reform efforts.
Chollet said President Joe Biden was "very keen to see this relationship get deeper and stronger."
Chollet stressed U.S. concern at Russia's actions near its border with Ukraine, which is fighting a seven-year war against Moscow-backed separatists in its eastern regions.
The State Department official said Russia's military buildup near the border "is a concern of ours," and that Biden expressed that to Russian President Vladimir Putin at their summit last month in Geneva.
"We have made clear that threats from Russia to Ukraine are unacceptable, and we are seeking to provide Ukrainians the means to help defend themselves," Chollet said.
Chollet said the United States will provide more than $400 million in security assistance this year to Ukraine, bringing the total to over $2 billion in seven years.
"The U.S.-Ukraine military relationship is a mature relationship...that has transformed just in seven short years, since 2014," Chollet said.
"And when President Zelenskiy visits Washington soon to sit down with President Biden, of course, the security relationship, the military security relationship, as well as the energy-security relationship, and all other aspects of this important partnership will be on the table for discussion," he said.
A spokesman for Russian President Vladimir Putin said after the Biden-Putin summit in mid-June that Ukrainian membership in the NATO alliance "really is a red line for us."
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy had said days earlier that he wanted a clear "yes" or "no" from Biden on a Membership Action Plan (MAP) for Ukraine to join NATO.
