Biden promises his Ukrainian counterpart Zelensky to help him face Russia, but remains evasive on NATO
US President Joe Biden received his Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelensky in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington on September 1, 2021. AP - Evan Vucci
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Ukrainian President Volodimir Zelensky was received at the White House this Wednesday, September 1, two years after the famous phone call with Donald Trump which resulted in the first
impeachment
of the former US president.
He had conditioned aid from the United States to an investigation by Ukrainian justice on candidate Joe Biden.
Now president, he reaffirmed the partnership with Ukraine.
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Joe Biden on Wednesday again promised Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to support him against Russia.
But he remained evasive on the very delicate question of NATO, which Ukraine would like to join.
"
As we celebrate the thirtieth anniversary of Ukrainian independence, the partnership between our two nations has grown stronger and will continue to grow stronger,
" Joe Biden said upon receiving his Ukrainian counterpart.
The United States remains firmly committed to the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine in the face of Russian aggression.
"
The meeting, initially scheduled for Monday, has been postponed twice, against the backdrop of a painful conclusion for the United States of the war in Afghanistan.
The departure of the last American soldiers thus gave another dimension to the visit of Volodymyr Zelensky.
Both China and Russia have been quick to interpret this haphazard withdrawal as a warning to countries that have staked everything on US military support, such as Ukraine.
►
Also read: Ukraine: Antony Blinken's double-relaxing visit
Gas pipeline
The Ukrainian president, meanwhile, estimated that the two countries had "
a very large number
" of subjects to discuss, in particular security against the Crimean separatists, supported by Moscow, but also the energy issue.
Kiev did not appreciate the US president's lifting of sanctions against the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline project.
This submarine pipe, which is about to be completed and passes under the Baltic Sea, will directly connect Russia and Germany.
This would deprive Ukraine of at least $ 1.5 billion per year that it currently receives for the transit of Russian gas through its territory, and of a diplomatic pressure tool.
Joe Biden believes that this project has gone too far to be stopped.
He then obtained a commitment from Germany to support Ukraine's energy security, which did not completely reassure Volodymyr Zelensky.
►
To read also: Nord Stream 2: compromise between Washington and Berlin around the gas pipeline
60 million military aid
Failing to lead to shattering announcements, the visit is already a prestigious victory for the Ukrainian president, who is only the second European leader to be received at the White House, after Angela Merkel.
Beyond this token of favor, the Ukrainian head of state and his country "
have received as much attention from this administration, and perhaps even more attention, than any other European country
", argued one senior White House official.
Volodymyr Zelensky leaves at a minimum with the pledge of $ 60 million in additional military aid, in particular in the form of Javelin anti-tank missile devices.
Since 2014, the United States has allocated $ 2.5 billion in aid to the Ukrainian armed forces, including more than $ 400 million in 2021 alone.
"
Euro-Atlantic aspirations
"
However, on the very delicate subject of Ukraine's accession to NATO, the Ukrainian president was at his expense.
"
I would like to speak with President Biden about his opinion on Ukraine's chances of joining NATO and on the timetable,
" he said.
Membership in NATO, a prospect which is hardly unanimous in Europe, would mean that members of the military alliance would be required to intervene in the event of aggression against the country.
On Wednesday, Joe Biden avoided coming forward.
"
We also support Ukraine's Euro-Atlantic aspirations,"
the American president was satisfied with.
The United States can continue to support Ukraine in its progress towards its democratic reforms and its movement to fully integrate into Europe.
"
►
Read also: Moscow responds to US sanctions, members of the Biden government banned from entering Russia
More careful about corruption
His spokesperson Jen Psaki said during a press briefing that the United States certainly wanted "
the door of NATO to remain open to the candidate countries, when the latter are ready and able to fulfill the conditions
" posed. .
"
Ukraine must take steps
" in this direction and "
knows very well which ones
: to make efforts at legal reforms, to modernize its defense sector and to boost its economic growth
".
Joe Biden has already publicly called on the Ukrainian president to tackle corruption.
After the withdrawal from Afghanistan, it's a safe bet that the United States will be even more careful about the probity and governance of the administrations it supports.
The White House has been bombarded with questions for several weeks about the billions of dollars spent on the Afghan army and government which ceded the country to the Taliban without a fight, or barely.
►
To read also: For Joe Biden, leaving Afghanistan was "the best decision"
(And with
AFP)
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United States
Ukraine
Nato
Russia
Joe biden
Vladimir Poutine
Volodymyr Zelensky
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