In an interview with Ukrainian journalists in Kyiv, Kristina Kvien, U.S. Chargé D’affaires ad interim to Ukraine, made a number of important statements on the ongoing war between Ukraine and Russia and the country’s prospects of joining NATO.
Commenting on the war launched by Russia against Ukraine, she emphasized that it is up to Ukrainians to decide what victory means for them, with Washington supporting their decision.
“We will support a more secure Europe, the kind of Europe where Russia poses a smaller threat to its neighbors less as well as the entire continent. Ukraine must feel more secure too,” said Kvien.
According to her, Ukraine can return the occupied territories, including Crimea, which Washington has always considered to be part of Ukraine. This fact is important, she said, as it will impact Washington’s decisions on providing aid for Ukraine to push back the Russian army.
With regard to weapons, Kvien said that Washington assesses the situation as to determining what kind of weapons are best for the purpose and whether they are available for export. For instance, a wealth of Javelins had been supplied before the invasion for Ukraine’s army to stop Russian tanks from crossing the border.
As the situation on the battlefield changes, so do decisions by the U.S. on supplying weapons.
“Ukraine has asked for long-range artillery. We supplied 90 howitzers with very powerful ammunition,” said Kvien. She also underscored that the U.S. supports the transfer of jet fighters to Ukraine from NATO member states while also admitting that America has no Soviet-era planes that Ukrainian pilots are familiar with.
“We want Ukraine to win this war! And we work daily to make that happen. The U.S. has already supplied Ukraine with more weapons than any other country, and we will continue doing that,” she said, adding that for the time being the U.S. sees no signs of Russia preparing to launch a nuclear strike.
Speaking of America’s support for Ukraine, she said that Congress increased the already hefty sum proposed by President Joe Biden in aid to Ukraine: from $33 billion to $40 billion. Kvien also said that Washington continues to support NATO’s open-door policy toward other countries, including Ukraine too if it wishes to join.
“On the subject of Finland’s accession to [NATO] without a Membership Action Plan. It is indeed so that the Action Plan is not obligatory for joining NATO. Accordingly, Ukraine could also join the Alliance without it. I wouldn’t consider it to be part of an expedited procedure as the Action Plan is a mechanism that enables countries to meet the membership requirements. If a country already meets them, then there is no need for it,” Kvien said.
She also noted that the U.S. embassy in Kyiv, which recently resumed its work, is waiting for Congress to give the green light to Bridget Brink, a nominee for the U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine post, which, according to her, might happen in June.
Due to a political crisis, the U.S. has not had an envoy in Ukraine since 2019. Marie Yovanovitch was the last diplomat to hold the post.
