“The head of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs noted that this “format allows for a very effective exchange of opinions, both regarding causes and consequences.””, — write: www.radiosvoboda.org
According to the correspondent of Radio Svoboda, during the briefing on January 8, Sybiga did not directly answer the question whether Ukraine considers these statements as a public response to Ukraine’s desire to join NATO or as taking into account the Russian veto on Ukraine’s desire to become a member of the Alliance.
At the same time, the minister said that “the common interest of the transatlantic community is the achievement of a sustainable, just, comprehensive peace.”
“I can definitely tell you that Russia wants war and the destruction of Ukraine. I can definitely tell you that Russia has not changed its rhetoric, the rhetoric of capitulation and ultimatums,” the foreign minister noted.
“Therefore, we are extremely interested in an active dialogue (with the American side – ed.)including at the level of leaders, and this format allows for a very effective exchange of views, both regarding the causes and the consequences,” said the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine.
The Minister of Foreign Affairs of Finland, Elina Valtonen, who is visiting Kyiv, reacted to Trump’s statements regarding Ukraine’s membership in NATO.
“We clearly state not only to the American audience, but also to the future President Trump and his team that there is no threat from NATO. This is very similar to the long-used narrative of Russia accusing NATO or the so-called expansion of NATO of its own aggression,” said the head of the Finnish Foreign Ministry.
She also emphasized two things: in particular, the fact that NATO is a defensive alliance, and it “does not pose a threat to Russia.” Just as Finland does not threaten Russia, both as a member of NATO and without membership in the Alliance, the minister noted.
Secondly, according to Valtonen, NATO is not expanding by force.
“NATO expands when free people in democratic countries decide to join it. And this certainly happened to Finland and Sweden, and one day, I hope, in the near future, it will also happen to the Ukrainian people, if they so decide. And this, again, does not threaten anyone. This is simply a reflection of freedom in free societies, where people can make decisions and use their freedom, not threatening anyone, but making their own sovereign security choice,” summed up the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Finland.
The day before, Donald Trump held a large-scale press conference where he discussed, in particular, the war in Ukraine, the role of NATO and relations with Russia. Trump said he understands Russia’s feelings about NATO expansion in the context of Ukraine.
During the election campaign, the newly elected US president said that he could end the conflict in Ukraine within 24 hours after taking office.
Trump’s return to the White House brings with it uncertainty about what impact it will have on the nearly three-year-old war and potential negotiations. But Trump said he was determined to “fix it,” adding that it was “hard.”
Ukrainian officials are concerned that any hastily arranged talks could allow Russia to hold on to Ukrainian territory it has seized and give Russian forces time to rebuild and reorganize.
Ukrainians also want to encourage Trump to continue US military support for Kyiv. Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Andriy Sybiga confirmed on January 7 that the trip to Ukraine by Trump’s special representative for Ukraine and Russia, Keith Kellogg, has been postponed.
Ambassador Kellogg was assigned to negotiate an end to the war. He said potential ceasefire talks could begin when Trump takes office, and in a December Fox News interview suggested the war could be “ended within the next few months.”