US President Joe Biden has held a phone conversation with his Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelensky. The sides discussed the situation in Donbass, sanctions against Russia in case of “aggression” and Ukraine’s membership in NATO
The conversation between the US and Ukrainian leaders started an hour later than Kiev had planned and lasted an hour and a half. According to Zelensky, during the conversation, Biden “briefed him on the content of his talks with Russian leader Vladimir Putin”.
“In the last few days there has been talk about supposedly some conditions about NATO, about membership in the alliance, about the course for Ukraine’s membership in NATO. President Biden said very clearly that any decisions on membership of the alliance are solely up to Ukraine. Only Ukraine should decide on this issue and members of the alliance, of course”, – the head of the Ukrainian presidential office, Andriy Yermak, said.
According to him, the United States decided “to be an active participant in the peace process in Donbass. Washington is informed in detail about the content of the Contact Group talks and Ukrainian initiatives on the return to the ceasefire, the opening of checkpoints and the exchange of prisoners, Yermak said.
“Biden was very frank with Putin and warned of all the consequences if the Kremlin decides to escalate near the Ukrainian borders and invade Ukrainian territory […] Biden said that any negotiations, any decisions concerning Ukraine, cannot be without Ukraine. Biden confirmed that the USA will provide all necessary assistance so that Ukraine can fight back at any time”, – Yermak stressed.
The official Kiev spokesman added that the US leader “clearly said that Ukraine’s possible NATO membership is a topic exclusively for Kiev and the North Atlantic Alliance. It is noteworthy that there is no common opinion in the North Atlantic Alliance itself as to the advisability of Ukraine’s accession to the Alliance.