Post-Trump, Ukraine’s leader to push Biden for US support

[ad_1]

WASHINGTON The Ukrainian leader who witnessed himself in Donald Trumps first impeachment was in Washington on Wednesday to see a new U.S. president, asking for increased military assistance and supporting his countries bid for membership of NATO.

The White House said the meeting between President Joe Biden and President Volodymyr Zelenskyy was aimed at showing support for Ukraine’s sovereignty in the face of Russia’s annexation of Crimea and backing by armed separatists in eastern countries. Biden also aims to encourage Zelenskyys efforts to tackle corruption and assure him that the U.S. can help protect Ukraine’s energy security.

Ad

Prior to the sit-down, the Biden administration said it was making up to $ 60 million in new military aid to Ukraine. The administration said in a notice to Congress that the aid package for Ukraine was necessary because of a large increase in Russian military activity on its border and because of mortar attacks, ceasefire violations and other temptations.

Zelenskyy is expected to release the washingtons ’decision not to block the construction of the Nord Stream 2 pipeline, which will bring Russian natural gas directly to Germany, beyond Ukraine. The pipeline was strongly opposed by Ukraine and Poland as well as both Republicans and Democrats in Congress, who Zelenskyy described as a powerful geopolitical weapon for Russia.

The White House meeting was postponed for two days as Biden and his national security team were consumed by the American military withdrawal from Afghanistan. The retreat, which ended on Monday, has left many Afghans who worked with the Americans and their allies and now fear Taliban rule. This has led to the perception that the US is less of a reliable international partner, something Biden may be eager to counter.

Ad

Zelenskyy, a television actor who is new to politics, took office in May 2019 eager to strengthen his country’s relationship with the United States. Instead, he almost immediately found himself under pressure from Trump’s messengers and soon it was Trump himself, who in the phone call that led to his first impeachment asked Zelenskyy to give us a favor.

In this famous call in July 2019, Trump asked Zelenskyy to investigate Biden and his son Hunter, who served on the board of an energy company in Ukraine.

Trumps European Union commander, Gordon Sondland, later told impeachment investigators that Trump and his lawyer Rudy Giuliani had clearly demanded a quid pro quo where a visit to the Oval Office would be contradictory. to Zelenskyy announcing the politically charged investigation that Trump wants.

Ad

Is there a quid pro quo? Sondland asked. Regarding the requested call to the White House and the meeting at the White House, the answer is yes.

Aside from the expected invitation to the White House, Sondland also said he understood Trump was holding nearly $ 400 million in military aid until Ukraine announced the investigation.

Allegations that Trump withheld military aid while seeking help from Ukraine for his re -election campaign formed the basis of the first impeachment case against him. Trump was acquitted by the Senate. The Oval Office meeting with Zelenskyy never happened.

In Biden, Zelenskyy already has a president with a long history of involvement in Ukraine, someone who supported its decision to secede from Russia, strengthen young democracy and be more fully welcomed into the Western club.

Ad

As vice president, Biden is the Obama administration that has directed Ukraine and pushed for stricter action against corruption. He once boasted of his success in firing in Ukraine the top prosecutor, who intercepted several corruption investigations. Trump later twisted it by insisting, wrongly, that Biden did it to protect his son and the energy company whose board he served.

Zelenskyy is the latest president of Ukraine who has vowed to discuss systematic corruption and then struggle once in office. On Wednesday, Biden will want guarantees that Zelenskyy will remain committed to following various reforms, a senior U.S. administration official said.

Zelenskyy is also seeking new economic and military assistance as Ukraine faces a hostile Russia on the eastern border. And he said he wanted a clear statement from Biden on whether he supports later NATO membership for Ukraine. NATO members are wary of given Ukraine’s evolving conflict with Russia.

Ad

The $ 60 million security package will include more Javelin anti-tank missiles, which Kyiv sees as critical in defense against Russian-backed separatists that have infiltrated eastern Ukraine. The U.S. has generally committed more than $ 400 million in military assistance this year.

The official, who informed reporters before the meeting about the condition of anonymity, would not say whether Biden would support Ukraine’s NATO aspirations, noting only that the US believes Ukraine has a lot of work to do. to reform the defense sector and the US will remain supported by the Ukrainian Efforts.

Biden and Zelenskyy will have meaningful discussions on the status of Ukraine various reforms and what else needs to be done, the official said. This includes measures to protect agency independence against corruption, human rights law and other efforts to strengthen democracy. The US will seek concrete results, the official said.

Ad

Nord Stream 2, the pipeline being built under the Baltic Sea, will also be on the agenda. By allowing Russia to bypass Ukraine, it could potentially eliminate the billions of dollars in transit fees now earned for pumping Russian gas into Europe.

While the U.S. is also opposed to the new pipeline, worried that it would give Russia too much power over energy supplies to Europe, Biden agreed in July not to penalize the German company overseeing the project. Under the terms of the agreement, the US and Germany are committed to counteracting any attempt by Russia to use the pipeline as a political weapon and to support Ukraine by funding alternative energy and development projects.

Biden will discuss along with Zelenskyy ways to improve corporate governance in state-owned energy companies and attract more investment abroad to help Ukraine achieve energy independence and meet clean energy goals, a senior administration official said. The two leaders will also discuss plans for protecting Ukraine’s energy security once Nord Stream 2 becomes operational, the official said.

Ad

Russian President Vladimir Putin published a lengthy essay in July defending his statement that Russians and Ukrainians are one people and accusing the West of working methodically to destroy Ukraine’s historic links with Russia and make it a stronghold against Moscow. I am convinced that the real sovereignty of Ukraine is possible only in partnership with Russia, after Putin.

Alexander Vershbow, a former NATO deputy secretary and U.S. ambassador to Russia, argues that ensuring Putin does not succeed is crucial to the security of the United States and its allies in Europe.

That is why Ukraine is fighting for freedom is also our fight. For if Putin succeeds, Ukraine will not be the last victim of Russia’s aggression, Vershbow wrote last week in a piece for the Atlantic Council, a Washington -based think tank.

Copyright 2021 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.

[ad_2]