US Supports Ukraine’s Sovereignty, Territorial Integrity In Face Of Russian Aggression: President

WASHINGTON — In a meeting with his Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelensky, US President Joe Biden, on Sept. 1, said that he reaffirmed the United States’ support for Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity in the face of Russian aggression.

“In my visit with President Zelenskyy today, I reaffirmed the United States’ support for Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity in the face of Russian aggression, our close cooperation on energy security, and our shared democratic values,” Biden tweeted.

The White House issued a Joint Statement on the US-Ukraine Strategic Partnership following a meeting between US President Joe Biden and his Ukrainian counterpart, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who is currently on a working visit to Washington.

“Russia’s aggression, including the war in eastern Ukraine and its seizure of Crimea, has claimed more than 14,000 Ukrainian lives, destabilized Europe and the Black Sea region, and threatened the global rules-based order,” said the White House in the statement.

“The United States does not and will never recognize Russia’s purported annexation of Crimea and reaffirms its full support for international efforts, including in the Normandy Format, aimed at negotiating a diplomatic resolution to the Russian-led conflict; in eastern Ukraine based on international law, including the UN Charter.”

It said that the United States supports Ukraine’s efforts to use the Crimea Platform to focus international attention and action on the humanitarian and security costs of Russia’s occupation of Crimea to peacefully restore Ukraine’s control over this territory by international law.

Enacting defense and security sector reforms, the White House said, “The United States welcomes Ukraine’s continued progress on defense and defense industry reforms, including the adoption of a new defense industry strategy. We intend to continue our robust training and exercise program in keeping with Ukraine’s status as a North Atlantic Treaty Organization Enhanced Opportunities Partner.”

“The United States supports Ukraine’s right to decide its own future foreign policy course free from outside interference, including concerning Ukraine’s aspirations to join the North Atlantic Treaty Organization,” the statement said. “We also remain committed to assisting Ukraine with ongoing reforms.”

The US also announced a new $60 million security assistance package to Ukraine.

“The United States is announcing a new $60 million security assistance package, including additional Javelin anti-armor systems and other defensive lethal and non-lethal capabilities, to enable Ukraine to more effectively defend itself against Russian aggression. The United States has committed $2.5 billion in support of Ukraine’s forces since 2014, including more than $400 million this year alone,” the White House said.

The United States and Ukraine have signed a Space Situational Awareness Memorandum of Understanding that enables more effective information sharing on space objects detected by satellites and ground sensors to facilitate space flight safety.

The United States and Ukraine have reached a deal to secure communications through a National and Nuclear Risk Reduction Center.

“The United States and Ukraine have reached an agreement on maintaining a secure 24/7 communications link through the National and Nuclear Risk Reduction Center,” said the White House.

“We have also agreed to a seven-year extension of the Agreement Regarding Assistance to Ukraine in the Elimination of Strategic Nuclear Arms and the Prevention of Proliferation of Weapons of Mass Destruction, signed in 1993, to support mutual nonproliferation objectives and bolster regional and international security.”

(With inputs from ANI)

Edited by Saptak Datta and Ritaban Misra