Editor’s Note: The following is a transcript and video of the press conference at NATO headquarters in Brussels held on April 13 between Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba and NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg. Also on April 13, Kuleba met with U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken who is in Brussels from April 13-15.
During his opening remarks of the press conference, Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba noted that Russia is gathering troops in three directions — north, east, and south of Ukraine’s borders, including Crimea. “Over the past weeks, Russia has drastically intensified its belligerent propaganda which dehumanizes Ukrainians and incites hatred towards Ukraine. It is even more worrying to see Russian officials joining this campaign by openly threatening Ukraine with war and open destruction of our statehood.”
Kuleba also said the West could help Ukraine with more sanctions against Russia. “It’s better to act now to prevent Russia from further escalating this situation,” he said.
Additionally, Kuleba warned: “Strategically, Russia has to understand that Ukraine belongs to the world of democracies, to the Western world, and the West will not allow Russia to shatter Ukrainian democracy and sovereignty. This is the message, the very clear and very simple message, that our friends and partners can convey to Russia. Ukraine is not part of the Russian world and will never be considered as such.”
Kuleba continued: “For us NATO membership of Ukraine is a matter of time…Back in 2014, it was unimaginable that Russia would go as far as occupying Crimea and Donbas. I would like to recall that the initial plan of Russian strategies, was to cut Ukraine in half and create a political entity called New Russia, Novorossiya. This plan failed, due to the effective countermeasures taken by the Ukrainian state, and the sacrifice of our soldiers and officers. Our partners, including NATO allies, played an important role in helping Ukraine to stop Russia, where it stands now. So when you ask me how far Russia can go, my answer to you, I cannot exclude anything, but I still believe that we have all tools available, not only to prevent Russia from making a single step forward but also to make it withdraw from the occupied territories of Ukraine.”
Video of the April 13 press conference between Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba and NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg in Brussels.
Kuleba-Blinken remarks before meeting
Readout of Kuleba-Blinken meeting
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken (R) meets with Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba in Brussels on April 13, 2021. (AFP)
