Secretary Blinken’s Remarks in Kiev, Ukraine

Ministry of Foreign ⁤Affairs, Kiev, Ukraine

September 11, 2024

Secretary​ Blinken: I would like to express my ⁣gratitude to Andrii for his hospitality and for arranging‍ the⁤ productive meetings we had today.

I was pleased ⁤that David⁤ Lammy had the‌ opportunity to meet​ with President Zelenskyy and other officials. The Foreign Secretary and I came to ⁣Ukraine‌ today to hear directly from our ⁢partners about how we can continue to work together to help Ukraine defend its people and territory as Putin continues his vicious war of aggression, transition from fall combat to winter, and continue⁤ to help Ukraine become a⁣ strong, independent nation over the long​ term.

We ⁣will report what ‌we learn to President Biden ‍and to the Prime⁤ Minister. In a⁤ few ⁢days, the⁤ two of them‌ will meet ​in Washington to⁣ discuss⁢ how our ⁢two countries⁤ can continue to ⁣support Ukraine.​ We will​ also⁣ report this to the many countries that support Ukraine and seek their further support. In a week or two, we ‌will be at the United ‌Nations General Assembly. We will be‌ talking to NATO, the ⁢G7, the countries that ⁢have bilateral security ⁤agreements with‍ Ukraine, and many allies and partners.

Commitment to Ukraine’s Success

It​ is essential that ​our ‌voice continues⁣ to be heard⁣ directly by the Ukrainian people: ⁤we remain ‌steadfast in our commitment to helping Ukraine prevail – not only to ensure that ‍Ukraine can defend itself today,‌ but that it is militarily, economically, and democratically ⁢victorious long into the future; and that ⁢the ⁣Ukrainian⁢ people can move forward​ on the path⁤ they ⁣have chosen, further⁣ integrating into the Euro-Atlantic community, including the⁢ EU and NATO, and achieving a just ⁤and‌ lasting peace.

Our goal is to see Ukraine win, and we‍ are deeply committed to continuing⁢ to provide the brave warriors and‍ citizens of Ukraine with the support they need to achieve that goal.

International Support for Ukraine

Support ⁣for Ukraine will continue⁢ because it is not dependent on any one​ country, any one⁣ party, or any one election.‌ Today, the United States and the ⁣United Kingdom are united in our ‌support for Ukraine’s success. We are​ also ⁣united with dozens ⁢of other⁤ countries, including an enduring​ coalition of more than 50‍ nations that have provided more than $100 billion‍ in security assistance to⁤ Ukraine since February ⁤2022 and‍ continue to provide significant⁣ support to Ukraine⁢ today.

Our message to Putin – our message together – is clear:⁢ Our support will ⁤not⁣ weaken; our unity will not break. Putin will ⁤not⁣ bring down the coalition of nations committed to Ukraine’s success,‌ and he certainly will not bring down the Ukrainian people,⁤ who have never wavered‍ in their conviction that they alone can determine their own future.

Ukraine’s Progress and Challenges

Ukraine has made significant⁢ progress on every key goal ⁢since I was last here‌ in May. They have made advances militarily, building ‌a strong, durable deterrent and defense against aggression. At the⁤ July summit, we declared that Ukraine’s ⁣path to NATO membership was irreversible. For the first⁣ time,​ NATO has ⁣established a command dedicated to Ukraine’s accession to NATO.

The last ⁣time I was here, nine countries ⁢had signed bilateral security agreements with Ukraine. Now, that number is⁣ 26 ‌and growing, including, of course, the⁤ United States and‍ the ‍United Kingdom. This will provide a foundation of ‍support for Ukraine’s ⁣defense ‌for years to come. Ukraine’s‌ defense industrial base has grown sixfold in ‍the last ⁤year ‌alone. ‌In the coming⁤ years, this will allow Ukraine to have one of the most advanced defense industries in the⁢ world and​ be able ‍to⁤ take‌ it to the global market, taking ​global market‍ share from countries like ​Russia while also providing products to NATO allies.

Ukraine ​is making economic progress.⁤ We have been taking steps to make it easier ⁣for‌ investors and companies to do business in Ukraine. For example, we recently worked with the private sector to announce⁢ a first-of-its-kind $350 million war‌ risk reinsurance facility. This will make it easier for‍ companies to invest even during war.

Ukraine continues to make progress in deepening democracy, with important steps including the recent passage ⁣by the ‍Ukrainian Parliament (Rada) of a law reforming financial ‍crime oversight, increasing ⁤the number of judges in ‌anti-corruption ‍courts, ⁣and prosecuting high-profile corruption​ cases.

Conclusion

The unwavering commitment of the Ukrainian people⁣ is one​ of the main ⁤reasons why ‌we are confident that Ukraine​ will ‌continue to ​move forward.​ No matter how great the obstacles in the way,​ Ukrainians⁤ have proven ‌time and ⁤again that nothing can stop a people committed‌ to creating⁣ their​ own future.