Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken’s joint press availability with Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba in Kyiv, Ukraine, January 19, 2022.

Transcript

Good afternoon. I will wait for secretary Blinken to turn on. Thank good afternoon. We just completed our negotiations with my colleague and friend, the Secretary of State of the United States Anthony Blinken and it was our pleasure to greet him in cave today. I believe that the that we can say that the speed and the dynamic of our relations between Ukraine and the United States which started was started by our President Um President Zelensky and President Biden actually most towards Formula one speed. We are moving unprecedentedly forward uh in our bilateral cooperation. This is not only our strategic cooperation, this is clear and a good friendship between two countries and two peoples. And the fact that at the very beginning of the year in January Tony is already here in cave is the proof of is the main topic of our discussions today was uh security situation and along the border of the Ukrainian border and in temporarily occupied areas in Donbas. And on that issue, I would like to say a few words. We have discussed it with Tony and I would like Ukrainians to know about it and remember it, we should not forget that this war Is war bit from Russia against Ukraine. And it started in 2014. And according to the first plan initial plan of the Russian Federation, Ukraine would not exist anymore, at least in its shape and form that it continues to exist. It exists and develops. We have gone through it’s very hard trying and through very big and hard periods in our history when we were fired at and our co patriots died. But we were strong and we survived and we are as strong as ever. And today, Ukraine is very strong. We have a strong army. We cannot. We we have very strong diplomacy and I’m not shy about it and we have strong partners. While we understand all the risks that are associated with aggression of the Russian federation, we have to be uh confident that we would be able to overcome this very hard period in our history. And I know we will survive it too. And I can assure you that our president, Volodymyr Zelensky and the government of Ukraine uh and as well as their home Narada work every day to strengthen our country and to make sure that we would be able to go through this very difficult period of time. The biggest achievement of Russia today would be sowing panic and distrust in uh in uh in Ukraine and stoking Ukraine from the inside. First of all, stoking our economy, our financial system. Therefore, we need to apply all our efforts to prevent Russia from achieving this goal. And even before we reach to our arms, our efforts are focused on making sure that the situation in Ukraine stays stable and the financial system is strong and predictive. Uh the and our Ukrainian economy would not suffer from the challenges that we face in the area of security. And all these topics were discussed today during our meeting with Antony Blinken and we know that the United States stand with us not only in the area of security but also in supporting our internal strength and for that. I’m very grateful last week. To tell you the truth, Ukrainians, please trust your country and believe in your country and we will be able to survive it. Last week was a week of high diplomacy, Tony after cave travels to other capitals to continue these diplomatic rounds. Ukraine is in the center of these processes and you can see it by the number of telephone calls, foreign visits to Ukraine, number of meetings and calls discussions. You see that Ukraine and in the center nothing about Ukraine is done without Ukraine. And we know that uh when our partners discuss issues about Ukraine, we know about those issues. There is nothing that Russia would convey to partners about Ukraine that Ukraine would not be aware of it. No decisions about Ukraine without Ukraine is a principle that is uh that we adhere to. And we discussed it during our meeting and Secretary of Lincoln confirmed it once again and I can see it in political steps that are taken right now. This is not just a slogan, this is a part of the U. S. Foreign policy and I am grateful to Tony for this today. We had a very fruitful discussion about the Normandy format. The United States support uh Ukrainian efforts and efforts of Germany and France to reinstate the work of the Normandy format at the level of leaders we were talking about the trilateral contact group and our efforts are aimed at making sure that Russia moves forward in diplomatic format and in this conflict we have only one solution. It will be diplomatic if Russia truly not only in its slogans, aims at political regulation and political solution, it can it should participate in diplomatic discussion with Normandy format with foreign partners, Western partner and the United States. This conflict can be solved only when the last Russian soldier leaves some parts of Lugansk and Annette region and Crimea and the city of Sevastopol. Yeah, I am convinced that our contacts will continue and I would like to thank the administration of Biden and Tony personally for military support we have received so far to strengthen our defense. Once again, Ukraine does not plan any offensive activities. We are working only exclusively on strengthening our defense and in that regard, the United States, our number one is our number one partner as you as they say, all is well that ends well and if it doesn’t end well, that means it’s not the end yet. And we make sure that everything works well. And thanks to the Partnership with the United States, we will achieve our goal. Thank you Tony Foreign Minister call Eva Dimitrova. Thank you. Thank you as always for your remarkable hospitality. Thank you as well for the very good exchange that we had as well as the very positive consultations with President Zelensky a little bit earlier. Let me just begin by why I’m here in Kiev today. First and foremost, it is to reaffirm the United States, unwavering support for Ukraine at a time when it’s security, it’s prosperity, its democracy, its fundamental rights to exist as a sovereign independent nation are facing unprecedented challenge from Russia. The Ukrainian people are no strangers to conflict Since Ukrainians stuck to the Maidan eight years ago to defend their choice for a democratic and European future. Russia has used every strategy in its playbook to try to undermine the will of the Ukrainian people. Since 2014, Moscow manufactured crisis and invaded Ukraine’s territory in Crimea, which it occupies to the state. Moscow orchestrated a war in Eastern Ukraine which continues to fuel using proxy forces that it leads, trains equips and finances, Moscow has systematically sought to weaken Ukraine’s democratic institutions as well as to divide Ukrainian society. Using everything from election interference to disinformation to cyber attacks and Russia is also attempted to destabilize the economic and financial situation in Ukraine and we are working together to mitigate those efforts. Um as we meet today, Russia has ratcheted up its threats and amassed nearly 100,000 forces on Ukraine’s border, which it could double on relatively short order. We know the Ukrainian people know that Moscow’s aggression to this point has killed more than 14,000 Ukrainian men, women and Children And driven more than 1.4 million Ukrainians from their homes. The human toll of aggression would be many magnitudes higher if it were to be renewed. Mhm. That’s why President Biden asked me to come here to underscore our steadfast commitment to Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity and it’s why we will continue our relentless diplomatic efforts to prevent renewed aggression and to promote dialogue and peace. At the same time, we continue to bolster Ukraine’s ability to defend itself and make clear the costs of the United States and Europe will impose on Moscow if it rejects the diplomatic path that we’ve laid out and proceeds with an unwarranted, unprovoked, unacceptable invasion or destabilization of Ukraine for years. We’ve invested in Ukraine’s economic growth, energy, security, infrastructure, civil society, rule of law and defense. We’re continuing to provide that support including defensive security assistance. This support has strong bipartisan backing in the United States that was evident in the senate delegation that was here just yesterday as well as the House delegation that came in December. It’s the message that the United States Congress sent in December by extending the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative through 2022 And increasing its funding to $300 million dollars second I came to Kiev to speak in person with the president, my friend, the metro other senior Ukrainian government leaders about the intensive week of diplomacy that we just engaged in with Russia both through the bilateral strategic stability, dialogue through the NATO Russia Council and at the and now to consult and coordinate on the next steps forward. We had the meetings that I described immediately before those engagements, the NATO foreign ministers meant to pursue are coordinated response to Moscow’s military build up. And the NATO Ukraine commission met as well. Across all of these diplomatic engagements. We’ve been firm on our principles and clear about the areas where we can make progress. one of the principles which you’ve heard us repeat but it always bears repeating is nothing about Ukraine without Ukraine. The same is true for the trajectory of Europe as a whole, nothing about Europe and its security without Europe. That’s been our message in public. It’s been our message in private. We’ve consistently practiced what we preach in recent weeks along. We’ve conducted more than 100 diplomatic consultations including with Ukraine, With NATO with the European Union, with the OSS in Bucharest nine, the various member states of these organizations to ensure that we’re aligned and speaking clearly with one voice throughout, we have made clear our strong preference for a diplomatic path to deescalate conflict with Russia that is the responsible force and it’s also why I’m heading to Berlin after this to consult with several of our closest European partners. And it’s why I’ll meet with Foreign Minister Lavrov in the Russian federation in Geneva on Friday the objectives of that meeting with one of the key topics that President Zelensky, Foreign Minister Khalid and I discussed earlier today. And as we have consistently done, we will brief our Ukrainian partners shortly after the meeting in Geneva as well and discuss next steps. The world is watching what’s happening here when Russia uses its strength to act with impunity against another sovereign nation. It makes other countries think that they too can violate the rules of international peace and security and put their narrow interests ahead of the shared interests of the international community. Third, the strength of our diplomacy, our deterrence and any response to Moscow’s aggression, the man’s unity among allies and partners as well as within Ukraine. Uh that’s a point underscored today in the meetings with President Zelensky and with the Foreign Minister, Ukrainians have to stick together, especially at this time, President Zelensky continues to advance important reform efforts, including recently judicial reform. Despite the external challenges and pressure that he’s facing to that end, I would urge the suppose Election Commission to complete the last step of their work without delay and finalize their selection. Now, as we know, one of Moscow’s longstanding goals has been to try to sow divisions within Ukraine to make it harder for Ukrainians to work together to realize that you’re a democratic ambitions to claim that democracy is a recipe for polarization and dysfunction Ukraine has to avoid any actions that helped Russia and the cynical effort. Don’t let Moscow divide you. That means that leaders inside and outside, Ukraine’s government have to put aside their differences in favor of the shared national interest and work together to prepare for what could be difficult days. But in doing that, the United States wants you to know this. As you stand up to efforts to divide to intimidate to threaten the United States stands with you resolutely in your right to make decisions for your own future to shape that future as Ukrainians for Ukraine thanks. First question. Will go to Will Mauldin of the Wall Street Journal please Thank you so much for Secretary Blinken. I wanted to ask you about any new types of assistance you may have discussed providing to Ukraine. Did you discuss um potentially offensive weapons or air defenses or contingency plans for if Russia does cross the border or the possibility of the U. S. Would transfer licenses of weapons that has supplied to other countries to Ukraine. And then just following up on that, is there a reason why the Biden administration a year on hasn’t nominated an ambassador to Ukraine uh for Mr. colaba similar question. I wanted to ask you if there’s anything that the U. S. Or Europe that you would like for them to help you with. Whether it’s native showing more flexibility and working with Russia. Whether it’s defense items or any of the things that I mentioned with Secretary Blinken. Thank you will thanks very much with regard to security assistance. A few things I think as you know, we have been providing defensive assistance to Ukraine consistently including deliveries that are taking place in just the last few weeks alone. I’m not going to get every detail of that assistance. But the point is this, We have given more security assistance to Ukraine in the last year than at any point since 2014. And as I say, we’re doing that on a sustained basis. The deliveries are ongoing again as recently as the last few weeks and more are scheduled in the coming weeks. Should Russia carry through with any aggressive intent and renew its aggression and invade. Ukraine will provide additional material beyond that that is already in the pipeline and that will further aid in uh in defending Ukraine with regard to an ambassador. Two things First we benefit as it is from a remarkable charge, a leading our efforts here and a terrific team at the embassy. I was just over there this morning meeting with the senior leadership team at the embassy and then meeting as you know with with virtually the entire staff of the embassy that virtually or in person. I can tell you that when an ambassador is nominated, that person will have the full confidence of the President of the United States, that person will be someone that is well known to me and with whom I have a close relationship and that person will have very demonstrable expertise and knowledge in this region and I would anticipate that the nomination will be forthcoming. Very short. Thank you for your question. I can confirm what Tony just said. We have very good cooperation with the United States in the area of military assistance and this assistance helps us in our defense. We also work with several European countries in the same area because the basic principle is very simple, strong Ukraine is the best tool to deter Russia. Our main expectation right here from the United States, from our European partners is to make sure that they are successful in agreeing on very strong sanctions that would be applied uh towards Russia. We understand that right now they are still negotiating and Tony informed me and briefed me about this process. But the Russian federation has to receive a very strong message every single day that this very heavy burden. The and cost that our partners mentioned about sanctions is a reality, not just a threat. And we see progress in the negotiations between the United States and the European Union every day and they are moving forward in bringing all those sanctions in one package. And this is our main expectations when we talk about negotiations between the United States and the European Union and I want to wish all the best and success in negotiations with Minister Lavrov. Unfortunately, he evades his any meetings and communication with me, but that meeting is very important on Friday and uh for us, we believe it is very important to change the behavior of Russia and moving towards more constructive and less aggressive Milan village is we do woman Europe. She’s been such all the security. They keep insisting these negotiations the best today will not wait for long Russian. See any surgeon deadline for themselves and they just want to make it before it comes. And a very question Mr. speaker, natural civil grounds for negotiations less how plausible is this Russia’s main about all these negotiations was to disrupt them eventually in order to slam the door, blame the United States and just impressive actions in particular against the grain. Thank you. I can’t I can’t read President Putin’s mind, I can’t tell you what what he’s thinking. I can tell you that we have to base what we’re doing. What issue on what we see as well as on history. And unfortunately tragically recent history has been Russia trying to exert it’s might over its neighbors invading Georgia, invading Ukraine leaving forces in Moldova against the will of its people and its government and now amassing very significant forces on Ukraine’s borders. And so we have to base our actions on on the facts on what we what we can plainly see ah as I’ve said based on that and in very close consultation with our partners in Ukraine, our allies throughout Europe. We’ve offered two paths to to Russia a diplomatic path through dialogue to try to resolve these differences peacefully ah and to proceed to de escalation. Alternatively, the other path if Russia decides to renew its aggression against Ukraine Is one of of conflict and severe consequences. Now it’s clear that the preferable path, the responsible path is diplomacy. That would be better for everyone. And that’s why we’re leaving no stone unturned and trying to pursue it through the intensive consultations that we had last week. As I said bilaterally with Russia through our strategic stability dialogue at the NATO Russia Council in the and we continue to test whether through diplomacy we can help de escalate this this conflict and resolve these differences peacefully now. To the extent that what you suggest is what Russia is thinking. It is I think precisely belied by our own determination to pursue the the diplomacy as long and as hard as we can. And if it’s not going to produce results, it’s going to be because Russia has chosen another path, not because the United States and the European allies, Ukraine have not sought to resolve the differences that we have with Russia on a peaceful basis through dialogue and through diplomacy. The next question goes to missy Ryan of the Washington post. Thank you. Ah Hi Secretary Blinken. Um for you. Well, the State Department or the Biden administration provide Russia a formal or written response to its the recent proposals related to NATO and if not why not given that Russia is saying that this is a requirement for moving the diplomacy forward. And in addition beyond the proposals that the United States has tabled related to military exercises in arms control. Do you believe that there is scope for the United States and its NATO partners to find areas of compromise or mutual agreement related to Russia’s central demand about NATO’s presence and activities in eastern Europe. Thank you first to take a step back for a second. As I said, we’ve now been through this pretty intensive week of engagements with Russia directly at NATO at the Osc and we’ve now had a chance to take stock of those conversations. We need to give Russia some time to take stock of those conversations for those who are involved in them to go back to Moscow, to report to President Putin and to help inform the next step. So that’s why I’m now going to see Foreign Minister Lavrov in Geneva to see where Russia is having gone through this initial diplomatic process and having had a chance two review where things stood back home. Mhm I won’t be presenting a paper at that at that time to Foreign Minister Lavrov. We we need to see where we are and see if there remain opportunities to pursue the diplomacy and pursue the dialogue, which again, as I said, is by far the preferable course. So let’s see where we are after Friday. We haven’t made any proposals to Russia in the context of these of these conversations, we’ve raised our concerns about the challenges that Russia poses to security in the, in the European area. They have raised concerns of their own, many of which they’ve made public. We’ve talked about areas where clearly if there’s if there’s a will, we could make progress on a reciprocal basis to improve security for everyone. And that does involve things like arms control, risk reduction, greater transparency, looking at the scope and scale of military exercises, things of that nature. Many of these ideas and possibilities are actually already enshrined in agreements that were reached in years past, but unfortunately, are not being lived up to including the conventional forces in Europe treaty. The so called Vienna document coming out of out of Helsinki, the intermediate nuclear forces agreement, et cetera. So those are the kinds of things that we NATO the has put on the table, as I said, now that the Russians have heard from all of us initially. And we’ve heard from them, we uh, we’re taking stock of the conversations and we’ll pursue this on Friday in Geneva and I suspect I’ll have more to say that, thank you. Okay, it’s not let me put it this way, it’s not included. It’s not clear what Russia’s central demand is or is not. They put a number of things on the table. Some of them are clearly absolute nonstarters, like closing NATO’s door to new members other things. As I said if it goes to actually, you know, enhancing everyone’s security on a reciprocal basis? There are things that we have made clear we can talk about. So again, I think through these conversations that we’ve already had, it’s a way of refining what’s what’s really at the heart of this and seeing if there are grounds for dealing with those with those things through, through diplomacy, through dialogue and through agreement. We still, we still don’t know. I think we’ll have a better idea. Maybe after Friday, the next question goes to natalia push karaoke interfax Ukraine. I have a question recently, the media said that the European union I can’t hear uh did the the the the European union and the United States discussed sanctions and how strong the those sections are and whether there are any there is any support to prevent destabilizing the situation from the inside. Whether the United States is ready to support Ukraine and in in withstanding my translation device in the with with Khrushchev suppressed. There were reports in media Jeremy. So some European countries are not ready to support the disconnection of Russia from sweet. So this option is still on the table is a part of talks on sanctions And the second question Russia tries to destabilize Ukraine from the inside and undermine its economic and financial stability. So what is the position of the United States and debt. And are you ready to support Ukraine on this matter? Thank you. I really appreciate the excellent interpretation and translation services. The second question 1st, yes. And indeed, as I noted, Russia has long tried, among other things to destabilize Ukraine economically and internally. And indeed, it’s one of the things that we talked about today with President Zelensky as well as with with the Foreign Minister and as I said a short while ago, were determined to to work with Ukraine to support Ukraine to deal with the economic challenges posed by opposed by Russia. 2nd, when it comes to to sanctions, we have been working intensely both within the US government and in very close coordination with European allies and partners individual countries. The European Union, very importantly, two come forward and put forward together a comprehensive set of sanctions that as we’ve said, mm hmm, include things that we have not done in the past, including in 2014. And as has been made clear not just by us, but By the G-7 by the European Union and by NATO will have massive consequences for Russia if it engages in further aggression against Ukraine. And as we’ve noted, this will have financial components, economic components, export control components, et cetera. And I can tell you that we’re in, as I said, not only very close consultation with European countries and institutions on this, but also in a place where should it come to that? And I hope it doesn’t. But should it come to that we will act strongly in a coordinated manner to impose Those consequences are in Russia. Thank you. Excellency. Since thanks to all the media, we have to conclude now because we are short of time. So the press conference is over tour, please.