John Bolton, national security adviser to U.S. President Donald J. Trump, arrived in Kyiv on Aug. 27 to meet with Ukraine’s new authorities and warn them of the risks of Chinese investment.
Bolton’s visit came unannounced until he tweeted about it on Aug. 26 late in the evening by Kyiv time. The next day, the U.S. Embassy in Kyiv welcomed the top official on social media and wrote that he arrived “to underscore U.S. support for Ukraine’s sovereignty, territorial integrity and Euro-Atlantic path.”
One of the first officials Bolton met in Kyiv was Oleksandr Danylyuk, secretary of the National Security and Defense Council.
According to the U.S. Embassy, the two discussed “how (the) U.S. can support Ukraine in its efforts to integrate more closely into the Euro-Atlantic community and to protect its industry from the risks of unfair Chinese economic practices.”
Bolton is reportedly trying to block the pending sale of Ukrainian aerospace manufacturer Motor Sich to Chinese holding Beijing Skyrizon Aviation.
Last week, the Wall Street Journal, citing senior U.S. administration officials, reported that Bolton had taken a personal interest in the deal and was seeking to prevent Beijing from getting hold of “vital defense technology” by acquiring Motor Sich, one of the major manufacturers of airplane and helicopter engines in the world.
In a comment to Evropeiska Pravda during a brief appearance before media on Aug. 27, Bolton confirmed that he will try to warn Ukrainian authorities of the dangers working with the Chinese poses to national security, but refused to comment on questions about Motor Sich.
“We are planning to talk about a number of transactions (of Ukraine with China). I don’t want to focus on one,” he told Evropeiska Pravda. “Defense and sensitive technology should not get in the hands of potential opponents.”
The U.S. has also criticized China’s massive infrastructure project, called One Belt One Road, as a threat to the independence of smaller economies. The American government warned that Beijing was giving out generous financing that these countries would be unable to repay. Last November, U.S. Vice President Mike Pence warned Asia-Pacific countries against taking Chinese loans.
Currently waging a trade war with China, the U.S. has also banned its companies from using technology from Chinese telecom giant Huawei and its affiliates over national security concerns.
Bolton also told reporters that Trump and Ukrainian President Volodmyr Zelensky will soon have the opportunity to talk in Poland, ahead of Zelensky’s official trip to Washington. Both presidents have been invited to the commemorative ceremonies marking the 80th anniversary of the beginning of World War II, which will take place in Warsaw on Sept. 1. According to the White House press service, Trump will travel to Poland on Aug. 31.
Earlier, in an interview with Ukraine’s Pryamyi TV channel, U.S. Special Envoy to Ukraine Kurt Volker said that the date of Zelensky’s Washington visit has not yet been set.
After his trip to Ukraine, Bolton will travel to Belarus where he will meet with the country’s leader, President Alexander Lukashenko.
