U.S. Vice President Joe Biden has said that the U.S. will assist Ukraine in strengthening its security.
“Ukraine has every right to defend itself against this continued aggression and we are providing security assistance to help Ukraine in this effort,” Biden told the Day, a Ukrainian newspaper, on the eve of his visit to Ukraine.
According to him, the U.S. has worked closely with its allies and partners around the world to condemn Russia’s aggression, and with its European and G7 partners have imposed serious costs on Russia’s economy.
“As Ukraine demonstrates its own force of will, in standing up to defend its sovereignty and territorial integrity, in pushing through difficult reforms, in developing its democracy and undertaking to combat corruption, and restoring economic health, we will continue to stand with the people of Ukraine,” the U.S. vice president said.
“We have been clear from the beginning that there is no military solution to this crisis – despite the fact that this is obviously what Russia is trying to impose through its proxies in eastern Ukraine,” Biden said.
He said that the conflict in Ukraine was directly caused by Russian aggression. “We know that the separatists – many of whom are recruited in Russia – receive heavy military equipment, training, and financing from the Russian government. In addition, Russian combat forces with Russian weapons and Russian tanks crossed the border into Ukraine and have directly assisted separatists fighting Ukrainian forces,” the vice president said.
Biden also expressed the hope that necessary reforms will be conducted in Ukraine and that the United States will help the Ukrainian people in their implementation.
“In the coming days, as a newly elected Rada prepares for its first session, it is vital that it deliver on reforms in various sectors – energy, agriculture, and business regulation for example,” he said adding that Washington will stand with Ukraine and support it in this effort, and that the U.S. is working to provide additional support for Ukraine’s economy, for the implementation of reforms, and also for your security.
