Strengthening Ukraine's security should be the main topic of the meeting of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky with the U.S. President Joe Biden, which will be held in Washington this week.
This was stated by former Special Representative of the U.S. State Department to Ukraine (2017-2019), Kurt Volker in an interview for Dom TV channel.
The diplomat stressed that the dialogue between presidents should be related to the security of Ukraine.
There are grounds for this such as the Russian aggression, occupation of Ukrainian territories, increase of the military presence of the Russian Federation in the immediate vicinity to the Ukrainian borders.
The concern is exacerbated by the threat of the absorption of Belarus by Russia and the large-scale Russian military exercise "West 2021", which is scheduled to take place in Belarus from September 10 to September 16, 2021.
"Therefore, I think that Ukraine has every objective reason to believe that the U.S. is simply obliged to discuss Ukraine's security issues," said Volker.
He also noted that Washington, in turn, expects Ukraine to continue its fight against corruption, the implementation of judicial reform, and other corresponding reforms.
"I think the Government of Ukraine will also agree with this, but this is not an alternative to solving security issues. Everything has to take place simultaneously. And I hope that our two leaders will be able to discuss these problems and reach a full understanding," the diplomat concluded.
In addition, Volker said that he had wished peace to residents of eastern Ukraine on Donetsk City Day, and added that this will happen when the Russian Federation ceases its aggression against Ukraine.
"Let me wish the best for the Ukrainian people in Donbas, both in the occupied territories and in the non-occupied territories. It is an incredibly painful thing that so many people have lost their lives or have their lives disrupted. All we can want is peace and an opportunity for these people to rebuild their lives again. The only way that can happen is when Russia ceases the war," Volker said.