Meeting with Zhelensky: Biden guarantees close partnership

Millions of Military Assistance and Promise of Assistance: US President Biden made these two promises at a meeting from Ukraine to his counterpart Zhelenskiz. There was also agreement on North Stream 2.

US President Joe Biden has reaffirmed that Ukraine can protect itself from Russian aggression. “The United States is committed to the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine in the face of Russian aggression,” Biden told a meeting with his Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zhelensky at the White House.

“The partnership between our countries is getting stronger,” Biden said. Support Ukraine’s “Euro-Atlantic” efforts. Gelensky thanked Biden for $ 60 million worth of new U.S. military aid. “We appreciate this contribution,” the president said, referring to the conflict in eastern Ukraine and the massive tensions with Russia.

Next gas transport via Ukraine

Selenskiz was “very concerned” about the approach of the controversial Baltic Sea pipeline Nortstream 2, which Ukraine is thought to be bringing past Russian gas to Germany. Biden and Selenskiz have joined forces in rejecting the plan. The US president believes that Germany and Europe are increasingly dependent on Russia for the pipeline and are damaging the gas-transporting country of Ukraine.

In a joint statement following the White House meeting, the United States and Ukraine outlined their continued opposition to the pipeline connection. It said it was “a threat to Europe’s energy security.” The United States has promised to work to ensure that Ukraine is a transit country for Russian gas.

However he acknowledged that their numbers were not enough to defeat Trump’s government. He lifted sanctions against the operating company Nortstream 2AG and its German managing directors. In June, Washington and Berlin settled their dispute over North Stream 2, agreeing that gas traffic through Ukraine should be protected on a long-term contract basis.

Access to NATO is not an option

Ukraine’s ambassador to Germany, Andrzej Melnik, told the “Die Weld” newspaper on Wednesday that in response to the termination of the pipeline, Ukraine should be allowed into NATO as soon as possible. “Ukraine does not need any guarantees, but strong, guaranteed security guarantees from the United States and Germany, within the best NATO membership framework.”

White House spokeswoman Jen Psaki said the United States had not yet decided who would join NATO. However, they supported the efforts of those interested in meeting NATO standards. Biden did not see a quick way for Ukraine to join the Western military alliance. The United States and Western European countries do not want to provoke Russia.

For more than seven years, Ukrainian government forces have been fighting in the eastern part of the country against Moscow-backed separatists. According to UN estimates, more than 13,000 people have been killed since then.