Biden's advisor meets with Zelensky in Kiev, announces $400 mln assistance package
WASHINGTON. Nov 7 (Interfax) - Jake Sullivan, national security advisor of U.S. President Joe Biden, visited Kiev on Friday to meet with Ukrainian administration members and to announce a $400 million military assistance package, the White House said in a statement.
"Mr. Sullivan announced an additional $400 million security assistance package, which includes refurbished T-72 tanks, unmanned aerial vehicles, and the refurbishment of HAWK surface to air missiles for eventual transfer to Ukraine. He also affirmed the continued provision of economic and humanitarian assistance," the statement said.
While in Kiev, Biden's advisor met with Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky, chief of staff of the Ukrainian Presidential Office Andrei Yermak, Defense Minister Alexei Reznikov and other senior officials.
"The parties discussed the issues of further support for Ukraine from the U.S. [...], increasing the capabilities of our state to protect critical infrastructure, financial and humanitarian support, [...], and consolidating international support for Ukraine," the Ukrainian presidential press service was quoted by the Ukrainian media as saying.
Sullivan said at a press briefing in Kiev that the U.S. and the G7 countries back the establishment of a "just peace" in Ukraine, elements of which include the fundamental principles of the United Nations Charter, in particular, the respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity.
When asked about possible peace talks involving Russia, he recalled U.S. President Joe Biden's words: "Nothing about Ukraine without Ukraine".
The Ukrainian presidential press service also said that Zelensky thanked Sullivan for his support for Ukraine and awarded him the Order of Prince Yaroslav the Wise of the second degree "for significant personal merits in strengthening interstate cooperation, and support for the state sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine."
Zelensky also decorated Senior Director for Europe at the U.S. National Security Council Amanda Sloat with the Order of Merit of the third degree.
At the same time as the Kiev meetings, the G7 foreign ministers met in Munster and, according to Ukrainian media reports, decided to establish "a G7 coordination mechanism to help Ukraine repair, restore and defend its critical energy and water infrastructure."
"We look forward to the 13 December international conference in Paris aimed at supporting Ukraine's civilian resilience, organized by France and Ukraine. We also welcome the outcomes of the 25 October International Experts Conference in Berlin and remain committed to contribute to the recovery, reconstruction and modernization of Ukraine," the G7 foreign ministers said in a statement.
The ministers vowed that they will "stand firmly with Ukraine for as long as it takes."
Additionally, the U.S. is setting up a group to coordinate efforts of allies and maintain the necessary level of military assistance to Ukraine, Ukrainian media reported, citing a statement by Deputy Pentagon Speaker Sabrina Singh late last week.
The entity, which will be called SAGU (Security Assistance Group of Ukraine), will be part of the U.S. European Command, with its headquarters in Wiesbaden, Germany, she said.
Singh added that the Group will "ensure continued support for Ukraine in the long term" and help streamline the training and assistance system "on the fly" created by allies at the start of the crisis.