Washington
& Kyiv Reinforce Bilateral Bonds; USA Commits to Ukraine’s Sovereignty
& Territorial Integrity in Face of Russian Aggression
The long-expected summit between Washington and Kyiv took place
today in the nation’s capital as President Biden and President Zelenskyy signed
a historic statement that both leaders described as a U.S.-Ukraine Strategic
Partnership.
The statement, which covered many aspects of their bilateral
relations, emphasized that 30 years after restoring Ukraine’s independence, “the
bonds between the United States and Ukraine are stronger than ever.”
It is noteworthy that the joint statement pointed out that Ukraine
restored its independence in 1991, not an insignificant reference to Ukraine’s
historic path to establishing an independent, sovereign state that has lasted a
millennia. The last declaration of Ukraine’s independence, also one that
restored national freedom, was made on June 30, 1941, in the face of Nazi
German and Soviet Russian invasions.
The statement also emphasized that today Ukraine’s path to
independent national existence is hampered by “continued Russian aggression.”
Nonetheless, “Ukraine’s success is central to the global struggle
between democracy and autocracy. As we face this challenge together, we stand
shoulder-to-shoulder, optimistic about our ambitious common goals to advance
democracy, deliver justice, enhance prosperity, and bolster security for
Ukraine.”
The two countries stated that they are “reinvigorating” the
Strategic Partnership Commission that will be “reoriented and resourced to meet
21st century challenges.”
As for Russian aggression, the statement noted that the United
States supports Ukraine’s efforts to use the recently adopted Crimea Platform
to focus international attention and action on the humanitarian and security
costs of Russia’s occupation of Crimea with the aim of peacefully restoring Ukraine’s
control over this territory in accordance with international law.”
It also states that Washington calls on “Russia to recommit to the
ceasefire in eastern Ukraine and engage genuinely in conflict resolution
efforts to end the war.”
Again, note the use of the word “war” – not hybrid war or
conflict.
The statement also expressed a negative view of Nord-Stream2,
saying that it threatened European energy security.
As for Ukraine’s desire to join NATO, Washington supports Kyiv’s free
expression to become a member of the alliance.
The full text of the statement follows:
Joint Statement on the U.S.-Ukraine Strategic Partnership
Thirty years
after the restoration of Ukraine’s independence, the bonds between the United
States and Ukraine are stronger than ever. Our shared values and commitment to
a Europe that is whole, free, democratic, and at peace provide the basis for
our strategic partnership. We are working together to address shared global
challenges, including energy security and diversification, climate change, and
the COVID-19 pandemic.
Our relationship serves as a cornerstone for security, democracy, and human
rights in Ukraine and the broader region. We are committed to Ukraine’s
implementation of the deep and comprehensive reforms necessary to fulfill its
European and Euro-Atlantic aspirations. We are also united in our commitment to
Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity in the face of continued Russian
aggression.
Ukraine’s success is central to the global struggle between democracy and
autocracy. As we face this challenge together, we stand shoulder-to-shoulder,
optimistic about our ambitious common goals to advance democracy, deliver
justice, enhance prosperity, and bolster security for Ukraine. Ukraine has
achieved progress in building institutions with integrity and intends, with
U.S. support, to continue to counter corruption, ensure accountability,
safeguard human rights, realize the aspirations of its citizens, and create
favorable conditions for attracting foreign direct investment and driving
growth.
The United States and Ukraine are reinvigorating the Strategic Partnership
Commission (SPC), reoriented and resourced to meet 21st century
challenges. To memorialize the elevated status of our partnership, the U.S.
Secretary of State and the Ukrainian Foreign Minister intend to approve a new
Charter at the SPC’s meeting in Washington this fall.
I. Security and Defense
In the 21st century, nations cannot be allowed to redraw
borders by force. Russia violated this ground rule in Ukraine. Sovereign states
have the right to make their own decisions and choose their own alliances. The
United States stands with Ukraine and will continue to work to hold Russia
accountable for its aggression. America’s support for Ukraine’s
sovereignty and territorial integrity is unwavering.
• Standing up to Russian Aggression: Russia’s aggression, including the war in
eastern Ukraine and its seizure of Crimea, has claimed more than 14,000
Ukrainian lives, destabilized Europe and the Black Sea region, and threatened
the global rules-based order. The United States does not and will never
recognize Russia’s purported annexation of Crimea and reaffirms its full
support for international efforts, including in the Normandy Format, aimed at
negotiating a diplomatic resolution to the Russian-led conflict in eastern
Ukraine on the basis of international law, including the UN Charter. The United
States supports Ukraine’s efforts to use the Crimea Platform to focus
international attention and action on the humanitarian and security costs of
Russia’s occupation of Crimea with the aim of peacefully restoring Ukraine’s
control over this territory in accordance with international law. Together, we
call on Russia to recommit to the ceasefire in eastern Ukraine and engage
genuinely in conflict resolution efforts to end the war.
• Deepening Strategic Defense Cooperation: The United States and Ukraine have finalized
a Strategic Defense Framework that creates a foundation for the enhancement of
U.S.-Ukraine strategic defense and security cooperation and the advancement of
shared priorities, including implementing defense and defense industry reforms,
deepening cooperation in areas such as Black Sea security, cyber defense, and
intelligence sharing, and countering Russian aggression.
• Supporting Ukraine’s Euro-Atlantic
Aspirations: As the United
States and Allies reaffirmed in the June 2021 NATO Summit Communique, the
United States supports Ukraine’s right to decide its own future foreign policy
course free from outside interference, including with respect to Ukraine’s
aspirations to join NATO. We also remain committed to assisting Ukraine with
ongoing reforms.
• Providing Ukraine with Security Assistance: The United States is announcing a new $60
million security assistance package, including additional Javelin anti-armor
systems and other defensive lethal and non-lethal capabilities, to enable
Ukraine to more effectively defend itself against Russian aggression. The
United States has committed $2.5 billion in support of Ukraine’s forces since
2014, including more than $400 million this year alone.
• Cooperating on R&D: The United States and Ukraine have finalized
a Research, Development, Test, and Evaluation Agreement that provides a
framework for pursuing bilateral armaments and military-technical cooperation.
• Enacting Defense and Security Sector Reforms: The United States welcomes Ukraine’s
continued progress on defense and defense industry reforms, including the
adoption of a new defense industry strategy. We intend to continue our robust
training and exercise program in keeping with Ukraine’s status as a NATO
Enhanced Opportunities Partner. Ukraine plans to continue taking steps to
enhance democratic civilian control of the military, reform the security
services, and modernize its defense acquisition process to advance its Euro-Atlantic
aspirations. The United States supports Ukraine’s plan to reform the Security
Service of Ukraine by streamlining and clearly defining its authorities and
strengthening regulations that protect human rights and provide for effective
public oversight.
• Collaborating on Cybersecurity: The United States and Ukraine prioritize
cybersecurity issues at the leadership level. In October, the U.S. and
Ukrainian governments plan to hold the 4th U.S.-Ukraine
Bilateral Cyber Dialogue in Kyiv to bolster bilateral cybersecurity
cooperation, information sharing, and U.S. support for Ukraine’s cybersecurity
capacity building, including in Ukraine’s financial sector.
• Increasing Situational Awareness in Space: The United States and Ukraine have signed a
Space Situational Awareness MOU that enables more effective information sharing
on space objects detected by satellites and ground sensors to facilitate space
flight safety.
• Enhancing Risk and Cooperative Threat
Reduction: The United
States and Ukraine have reached agreement on maintaining a secure 24/7
communications link through the National and Nuclear Risk Reduction Center. We
have also agreed to a seven-year extension of the Agreement Regarding
Assistance to Ukraine in the Elimination of Strategic Nuclear Arms, and the
Prevention of Proliferation of Weapons of Mass Destruction, signed in 1993, to
support mutual nonproliferation objectives and bolster regional and
international security.
II. Democracy, Justice, and Human Rights
The United States and Ukraine are bound by the universal values that unite the
free people of the world: democracy, human rights, the rule of law. We also
recognize that living up to these values at home is essential to defending and
advancing them around the world. Despite Russia’s continuing aggression,
Ukraine has made progress in implementing comprehensive democratic and human
rights reforms. With U.S. support, Ukraine is pursuing a reform agenda to
transform the country in line with European and Euro-Atlantic principles and practices.
• Reforming the Judiciary and Combatting
Corruption: Building
upon the passage of judicial reform legislation, Ukraine plans to overhaul its
judicial sector in line with international best practices. At the same time,
Ukraine intends to build on the successful establishment of its independent
anti-corruption infrastructure to implement critical initiatives that protect
the independence and improve the effectiveness of these institutions in rooting
out corruption and holding corrupt actors accountable. These steps include
promptly selecting a new Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor consistent with
international best practices, and passing legislation to safeguard the
authority of the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine director as well as
ensure a transparent and credible process for selecting a successor. United
States’ assistance and advisory programs support these strategic reform
initiatives.
• Advancing Human Rights: With U.S. support, Ukraine will continue to
advance respect for human rights, civil liberties, and fundamental freedoms in
accordance with international standards and obligations, as well as to fight
racism, xenophobia, anti-Semitism, and discrimination against the LGBTQI+
community. Ukraine plans to strengthen accountability for violence against all
persons regardless of gender, race, ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, or
political views, including through legislation. Ukraine and the United States
intend to continue holding Russia accountable for ongoing systemic abuses in
the territories of Ukraine controlled or occupied by Russia and to seek the
release of political prisoners and hostages held in these territories.
• Investing in Ukraine’s Reform Agenda: Governance reform is critical to
ensuring democracy delivers for the people. Ukraine has committed to
prioritizing reforms that strengthen its democratic institutions, bolster human
rights, and deliver justice. To that end, Ukraine is developing an ambitious
and comprehensive Plan of Transformation, which will be considered
at the next SPC meeting. In support of Ukraine’s reform efforts, the U.S.
government has provided Ukraine with nearly $2 billion in development
assistance since 2014 and plans to allocate over $463 million in assistance
this year, including for programs focused on democracy, human rights, local
governance and decentralization, privatization, and judicial reform.
III. Energy Security and Climate
The climate crisis has reached a critical point that demands urgent action,
which we are both addressing. The United States and Ukraine are advancing
Ukraine’s energy security through sustainable, effective, and long-lasting
policy solutions backed up by ongoing corporate governance reform.
• Establishing a Strategic Energy and Climate
Dialogue: The United
States and Ukraine intend to bolster collaboration on shared energy and climate
goals through a reinvigorated Strategic Energy and Climate Dialogue, which will
provide a strong platform to advance energy security objectives, enhance
economic ties, and achieve ambitious climate targets.
• Attracting Energy Sector Investment Through
Reform: Ukraine and
the United States intend to utilize their strategic energy dialogue to address
systemic imbalances in the Ukrainian energy system, expand corporate governance
reform at state-owned energy companies, increase the attractiveness of
Ukraine’s energy industry, and attract the foreign investment needed to achieve
energy independence, decarbonization, and clean energy goals.
• Reducing Greenhouse Gas Emissions and
Promoting Innovation: Ukraine and
the United States have both reaffirmed their intent to achieve ambitious
reductions in their national greenhouse gas emissions by 2030 as communicated
through our respective Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs). Ukraine has
joined the Agricultural Innovation Mission (AIM) for Climate and intends to
develop renewable energy in a financially responsible manner.
• Addressing the Impact of Nord Stream 2: The United States and Ukraine continue to
oppose Nord Stream 2, which we view as a threat to European energy security.
The United States intends to continue using measures envisaged in legislation
and energy diplomacy, including through the recent appointment of a senior
advisor for energy security, to maintain Ukraine’s transit role and security of
supply during this period of energy transition and to prevent the Kremlin’s use
of energy as a geopolitical weapon. The U.S. and Ukrainian governments support
efforts to increase capacity for gas supplies to Ukraine from diversified
sources.
IV. Economic Growth and Prosperity
Ukraine must be strong enough economically to choose its own future and to bend
the arc of its national history toward greater justice and opportunity for the
Ukrainian people. Ukraine’s continued adoption and implementation of reforms
are critical to ensuring that its economy delivers for the people.
• Implementing Key Reforms: In alignment with Ukraine’s International
Monetary Fund program, Ukraine intends to reform state-owned enterprises,
protect central bank independence, strengthen financial sector supervision, and
create a fair business and investment environment. The United States intends to
continue working with Ukraine to support these efforts and promote robust and
inclusive economic growth in both the U.S. and Ukrainian economies.
• Expanding Commercial Cooperation: The United States and Ukraine have
finalized a Memorandum of Understanding on commercial cooperation, designed to
promote commercial participation by U.S companies across the Ukrainian economy
and by Ukrainian companies across the U.S. economy.
• Providing Sufficient Funding for Growth: The United States and Ukraine have signed an
MOU, which may support future transactions in identified sectors, including
several key projects under discussion. The initial amount of $3 billion in
support from the Export-Import Bank (EXIM) of the United States for these
potential transactions may be increased as the pipeline of projects in
agribusiness, infrastructure, climate, and energy develops.
• Growing Trade and Investment: The U.S.-Ukraine Trade and Investment
Council is holding its 10th meeting this fall to confirm work
plans to avoid regulatory barriers, eliminate the use of unlicensed software by
Ukrainian government agencies, address other intellectual property issues, and
cooperate on labor issues. Ukraine is also committed to passing legislation
establishing a robust investment screening process. Ukraine and the United
States plan to review the operation of the Trade and Investment Cooperation
Agreement at the fall meeting of the Council.
V. Pandemic Response and Humanitarian
Assistance
The United States has been a steadfast supporter of the Ukrainian people in
responding to the COVID-19 pandemic and humanitarian needs resulting from the
war in eastern Ukraine.
• Fighting COVID-19: The United States has provided approximately
$55 million in COVID-19 related assistance and donated nearly 2.2 million doses
of COVID-19 vaccines to Ukraine. The United States intends to provide
additional assistance to Ukraine, to include cold chain storage support and an
additional $12.8 million in COVID-related assistance drawn from the America
Rescue Plan Act.
• Humanitarian Assistance: The ongoing conflict in eastern Ukraine
has left 3.4 million people in need of humanitarian aid. Since 2014, the United
States has provided over $306 million in life-saving assistance to help
Ukrainians in need, spanning food, shelter, safe drinking water, and protection
for the most vulnerable, including the elderly. The U.S. government will
provide an additional $45 million in humanitarian assistance to Ukraine this
year.
It can also be found here: Joint
Statement on the U.S.-Ukraine Strategic Partnership | The White House
