Just two days after UK Defense Secretary Ben Wallace was in Kiev to solidify a strategic partnership with Ukraine, Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin welcomed recently minted Ukrainian Defense Minister Oleksii Reznikov to the Pentagon. “The leaders discussed a range of security issues, including Russia’s destabilizing actions in the region, and agreed to work closely together to advance the shared priorities outlined in the U.S.-Ukraine Strategic Defense Framework signed on August 31, 2021, including building the capacity of Ukraine to more effectively defend its sovereign territory,” the Pentagon readout reported. “Secretary Austin encouraged Minister Reznikov to maintain progress on defense and defense industry reforms, and committed to assisting Ukraine with the implementation of NATO principles and standards.”
In introductory remarks in front of reporters before going behind closed doors, Austin told Reznikov that “Like you, we are monitoring closely recent Russian military movements near your borders and we’ve made clear our concerns about Russia’s destabilizing activities and our desire for more transparency.” He promised that the U.S. will “continue to consult with you, as well as our partners and Allies, in the region about what we’re — what we’re all seeing and about how best to promote regional security.” He also assured Reznikov that “as President Biden has said to President Zelenskyy, our support for Ukraine’s self-defense, sovereignty and territorial integrity is unwavering.”
Reznikov said in reply, “Ukraine appreciates the strategic relations with the U.S. and the assistance of the American people in countering Russian aggression. We are determined to develop our partnership and this visit is held at a time when the whole world is observing a hybrid attack, using migrants on the Poland and the Baltic countries. ... We have the same assessment about the dangerous potential of these threats, and we would like to discuss what the answer might be.
“In Ukraine, we are well aware that Russia may resort to escalation at any time, and we are ready to defend our country and the future of our children,” Reznikov went on. “This possible escalation will certainly have catastrophic consequences for the whole of Europe. Whether it will take place depends on — depends to a large extent on the unity and determination of the civilized world to stop the aggression — aggressor.”
