It is essential to support Ukraine U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken stressed in a video post on the evening before he visited Kyiv, which should not go unnoticed
In it, Blinken stated that the U.S. has been supporting Ukraine for some years because Ukraine deserves support, and for a more principled reason. Ukraine is threatened by a Russian Federation that shows by its actions that it changes borders by force, and it believes it has a ‘sphere of influence’ to decide the associations, policies and agreements of other States without consultation with them or their electorates.
Neglect to support Ukraine at this key moment will “open a huge Pandora’s Box” enabling other autocratic nations to follow Russia in suppressing their weaker neighbours, he said.
Such an occurrence would mean an undermining of global democracy as well as a recipe for chaos and human suffering.
The stand of the people of Ukraine for freedom is something that affects Americans and all people and that’s why the U.S. supports Ukraine in principle, the senior U.S, official elaborated in the video posted on his social media page.
The Secretary of State began his visit to Kyiv on the morning of Jan. 19. He visited the U.S. Embassy and thanked his colleagues and their families for their sacrifices and successes in representing American interests in Ukraine.
At a press conference, Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba welcomed his U.S. visitor and stressed that Ukraine and the U.S. were boosting their friendship and cooperation. He underlined that U.S. support has been a significant and a positive factor enabling him to affirm that today Ukraine has a strong army, a strong diplomacy and strong partners.
Expressing gratitude for including Ukraine in ongoing East-West talks about Ukraine, Kuleba stated that their main discussions were focused on security along the border of Ukraine, peace in the occupied parts of Ukraine and essential internal stability.
Secretary Blinken reaffirmed U.S. support for Ukraine’s sovereignty, territorial integrity and independence, and said he was in Kyiv to provide an update ongoing diplomatic activity relating to Ukraine, and to restate that dialogue and deterrence were the preferred paths dealing with the Russia as regards its build-up of forces near Ukraine’s borders and in occupied parts of Ukraine.
The top U.S. diplomat highlighted the different forms of economic, defensive and political support his country. has given to Ukraine. He noted that the previous Russian invasion actions into Ukraine’s Crimea and Donbas had caused significant human suffering – the deaths of 14,000 Ukrainians and the displacement of 1.4 million people.
As further invasions into Ukraine could cause even more suffering, he said and went on to stress that he is working on behalf of the U.S with Ukraine, allies and the Russian Federation to seek sustainable solutions, or to impose significant costs on Russia if they choose conflict over cooperation.
“Moscow will try to divide Ukraine,“
stated Blinken, as he urged Ukrainians to stick together, to avoid internal divisions and to put aside differences.
Blinken will go on to Berlin on Jan. 20 for related discussions with German colleagues. On Jan. 21 he will meet with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov in Geneva “to engage on areas of bilateral concern and urge Russia to take steps to de-escalate and remove its troops along Ukraine’s border,” as to the U.S. Department of State put it.
