On January 31, as was reported on the front page of this newspaper, U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo visited Kyiv, where he met with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Foreign Affairs Minister Vadym Prystaiko, Defense Minister Andriy Zahorodnyuk and other leaders in what was meant, to use the State Department’s words, to “underscore the United States’ strong support for Ukraine and the country’s Euro-Atlantic integration.” Surely, the visit was meant also to allay fears that the Trump administration, with President Donald Trump in the midst of impeachment proceedings in the U.S. Senate, was not turning away from Ukraine. It would also serve to counter the negative impression created when Mr. Pompeo, apparently in a fit of anger, had said to an NPR anchor: “Do you think Americans care about Ukraine?”
During their joint press availability, President Zelenskyy stated: “This is a hallmark visit that clearly demonstrates the consistent and across-the-board support of our country by the United States of America. The United States have been and will remain our key ally in defending sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine. We dearly appreciate efforts of President Trump and his administration on this track. We are grateful for your personal, unflinching, and unwavering stance regarding the war in Donbas and the illegal annexation of Crimea.”
In a similar vein, Secretary Pompeo emphasized that “The Ukrainian people should know the United States understands that Ukraine is an important country. It’s not just the geographic heart of Europe; it’s a bulwark between freedom and authoritarianism in Eastern Europe. …The United States sees that the Ukrainian struggle for freedom, democracy and prosperity is a valiant one. Our commitment to support it will not waver.” In addition, he cited the historic Crimea Declaration of July 2018 in which the U.S. made it clear that Crimea is Ukraine and the U.S. “will never recognize Russia’s attempts to annex it.”
After meeting with Foreign Affairs Minister Prystaiko, Mr. Pompeo tweeted: “…The U.S. welcomes Ukraine’s efforts to bring peace to the Donbas. Russia must reciprocate. Our sanctions will remain in place until Ukraine’s territorial integrity and sovereignty is restored.” During a meeting with Defense Minister Zahorodnyuk, according to the State Department, the discussion was about U.S. support for Ukraine’s efforts to strengthen its resilience against Russia’s aggression and to implement important defense sector reforms. Mr. Pompeo also visited wounded soldiers at what he described as “Ukraine’s equivalent of Walter Reed [National Military Medical Center],” afterwards saying to an ABC correspondent that “We have to remember that they are …engaged in a struggle, and we have this opportunity to help them.”
Sounds good, right? But the question that needs to be asked is: What’s next in the U.S. relationship with this strategic ally?
First on the agenda should be the appointment of a U.S. ambassador to Ukraine, where the Embassy is currently led by a charge d’affaires. Second, the U.S. should finally grant President Zelenskyy what he’s been seeking since he was elected last April: a White House meeting with President Trump. And third, it would be a wise move to name a special envoy to help achieve peace in Ukraine, where Russia’s war will soon enter its seventh year.