Tony BLINKEN: “Russia’s aggression destroys eastern Ukraine”

These days, US Deputy Secretary of State Tony Blinken visited Kyiv for the first time. In the course of his first tour after appointment to this post, this second highest-ranked diplomat in the US foreign ministry also visited France, Switzerland, Great Britain, and Germany. In Berlin, after a speech in a leading German public policy Hertie School, Blinken emphasized in an answer to a question: “Ukraine in 10 years, I     think, will be an increasingly thriving part of Europe.” The Deputy Secretary of State started his exclusive interview to The Day with his impressions.

“During my visit, government officials and representatives of the civil society told me about challenges they face, and I assured them of the permanent support of the United States for Ukraine, its government, and its people on the path towards democratic and independent future. Today this future is endangered, since Russia destroys eastern Ukraine and threatens the hope for integral, free, and peaceful Europe. If Ukraine is not integral, if all people living here are not free, if there is no peace here, in some sense, all this won’t be present in Europe either. The current crisis not only threatens this large European building project, but also jeopardizes the supreme principles of international order, which we all should protect. These principles are the foundation of freedom and stability.

“Territorial integrity of a democratic country cannot be changed by force. If we do not protect this principle, other countries might decide their interests should also be promoted with the help of gun barrels. The freedom of assembly, making their own choice, and determining their future is an unalienable right of citizens in a democratic society. External forces or countries should not determine this, neither the United States, nor Europe, nor Russia. If we do not defend this principle, large countries will receive indulgence for intimidating and taking over their neighbors. We all are interested in maintaining these rules and protection of the global system we built together.”

Some Ukrainian pundits tend to blame the United States for the Russian annexation of Crimea and aggression in eastern Ukraine, claiming that it was the United States that forced Ukraine to give up its nuclear arsenal – then third largest in the world – and to later cut its strategic bomber aircraft. Does your country accept the blame for this disarmament of Ukraine in the face of Russia? How is your government going to win back its credibility as the signatory of the Budapest Memorandum and restore the territorial integrity of Ukraine?

“Ukraine’s position in the world and its security have been greatly enhanced by the courageous decisions it made 20 years ago, and our partnership is built upon these decisions. Ukraine has been and continues to be a leader on global nuclear non-proliferation efforts, including past year’s reaffirmation of their Non-Proliferation Treaty commitments on the 20th anniversary of its accession. The United States takes seriously its role as a signatory to the 1994 Budapest Memorandum, and we reaffirm our Budapest commitments.

“We have a collective responsibility to uphold the rules that are central to an international system of peace, security, prosperity, and freedom. Russia’s abrogation of the Budapest Memorandum calls into question its potential commitment to other international agreements, and undermines security guarantees made to other former nuclear states. As long as Russia continues disregard the commitments that they made in 1994 and continues to violate Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, it will face additional costs.”

We know that Republicans and Democrats in both Chambers of Congress demand that President Obama supply defensive weapons to Ukraine. What prevents this Administration from doing this and helping Ukraine to stand up against Russia and Russia-backed separatists who are not fulfilling the Minsk agreements?

“From the outset of the crisis, we have worked tirelessly with our European partners to reach a diplomatic solution that ensures Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. We do not believe there is a military solution to this crisis. There has to be a diplomatic one.

“We have provided Ukraine with critical economic and security assistance to defend itself, keep the economy afloat, and help the energy sector function. In 2014, we committed over 118 million dollars in non-lethal equipment and training, including armored vehicles, body armor, night and thermal vision devices, counter-mortar radars, medical equipment, and other items.

“Providing lethal military assistance to Ukraine plays to Russia’s strengths. Anything we provide is likely to be matched – and then doubled and tripled – by Russia. With this in mind, we are working closely with the Ukrainian government to determine our next steps in defense cooperation.

“We also continue to push Russia and the separatists it backs to implement their commitments under the recent February Minsk implementation package for the September Minsk agreements. As we and our European partners have made clear, there will be additional costs if these commitments are not upheld.”

Senator McCain told Den in a recent interview that NATO and the West do not have a strategy for how to deal with Russia and its aggression against Ukraine. Is he right? What can you say about this?

“I would disagree with Senator McCain’s assessment. The United States and our European partners have focused on four main areas throughout this crisis:

- We have supported Ukraine with robust economic assistance, security assistance, and other support.

- We have worked to reassure our NATO allies and create a virtually constant land, sea, and air presence in the frontline states.

- We have worked to pursue diplomacy, the only sustainable answer to the conflict in eastern Ukraine.

- And we have sought to impose costs on Russia for its destabilizing and destructive actions in Ukraine.

“We hope these diplomatic efforts will lead to a lasting peace in eastern Ukraine, but we are prepared to increase the costs until Russia and the separatists it supports live up to the commitments they made under the September and February Minsk agreements.

“The United States and the EU have worked in lock-step to impose successive rounds of tough sanctions to encourage Russia to change its course. As a result, Russia’s economy is in freefall. The ruble’s value has declined fifty percent. Roughly 151 billion dollars in capital has fled the country. Russia’s economy is predicted to fall into recession this year. Russia’s credit rating is now at junk status. Falling oil prices have only made the problem more acute for Russia. However, I need to underscore that the purpose of our response is not to impact the Russian people or topple Putin. It is simply a reaction to Russian actions in Crimea and eastern Ukraine to persuade Moscow to cease its aggression.”

Talking about strategy, what about the idea of acknowledging Ukraine as a major non-NATO ally of the United States? Or, alternatively, signing a treaty, like the one between the United States and Japan?

“Today, the United States and Ukraine enjoy the highest level of bilateral cooperation of any time in our two countries’ histories. US bilateral assistance to Ukraine already goes beyond major non-NATO ally status. Additionally, when you factor in Ukraine’s membership in NATO’s Partnership for Peace Program and its distinctive partnership with NATO via the NATO-Ukraine Commission, it is clear that our cooperation has never been stronger.

“We also have a robust framework for bilateral military engagement, with quarterly meetings at senior levels between US European Command and the Ukrainian Ministry of Defense. These engagements guide our defense cooperation efforts.”

How can you explain the fact that this Administration has not punished Russia by imposing new sanctions for not abiding by the Minsk 2 agreements, when Russia-backed separatists seized Debaltseve after the agreement was signed?

“Russia and the separatists continue to fail to fully meet the commitments to which they have signed in the Minsk agreements and the February 12 implementation plan. This is unacceptable.

“If their behavior continues, I think you will see our pressure only increase, including through new economic sanctions from the United States and Europe. On the other hand, if Russia and the separatists make good on their commitments, we will remove the sanctions and welcome Russia back into the international community, where we have gone to great lengths over many years to ensure its integration. That is what we would most like to do.” 

We are located in Russia’s close proximity and can see more clearly than others how effectively it exports corruption to Europe, using corruption as a kind of weapon of its own. Can the US Administration help uncover this corruption and wake Europe up?

“Corruption is a cancer. It eats away at people’s faith in leadership and creates destabilizing wormholes of influence for malevolent actors, whether other states or transnational organized criminal organizations. In the days after former President Yanukovych fled his gaudy, gilded villa, Ukrainians saw for themselves just how powerfully corruption undermined their nation’s future.

“The United States is working with a range of partners and their civil societies to strengthen institutional capacity and resilience, increase transparency, and support efforts to counter meddling by outsiders who use corruption as a tool to destabilize other governments and countries.

“Through US assistance, we are supporting programs that raise public awareness about corruption; advance legal reforms; reduce opportunities for corrupt behavior; improve the capacity of governments to implement anti-corruption reforms, especially in areas like health care and policing; and strengthen civil society anti-corruption activities.

“We are seeing important progress here in Ukraine. The Rada is passing laws to enhance transparency in public procurement and reduce government inefficiency and corruption. Work is underway to clean up Ukraine’s energy sector, to make the banking system more transparent, and to improve the climate for business and attract foreign investment. I’m encouraged by the creation of a new anti-corruption agency and by strengthening of the prosecutor general’s office.

“We are having this dialog about combating corruption in capitals around the world – from Brussels to Bangkok – and are keenly focused on outreach to countries and their civil societies across central and Eastern Europe.”