President of Ukraine

There is a formal and real strategic partnership between Ukraine and the United States - Deputy Head of the Office of the President

12 November 2020 - 15:28

There is a strategic partnership between Ukraine and the United States. The United States stands ready to continue to play an important role in ensuring Ukraine's national security. This was emphasized by Deputy Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine Ihor Zhovkva during the program "We ask questions here" on Radio NV.

According to him, Ukraine counts on the US continued support for its sovereignty and territorial integrity.

"The signals coming from then presidential candidate Joseph Biden, and the signals now inspire optimism: The United States is ready to continue to play an important role in ensuring Ukraine's national security, ending the aggression in Donbas and in aid issues, including financial, to build a system of our national security," Ihor Zhovkva said.

The Deputy Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine expressed confidence that the United States and other NATO member states would disclose to Ukraine the mechanism of the Enhanced Opportunities Partnership.

"And we will do our homework, fulfill the criteria necessary for Ukraine's membership in NATO: reform our system of the Armed Forces, national security. We are confident that the support of the United States in this process will certainly be provided to us," he said.

Ihor Zhovkva also noted that in the fight against corruption, the views of President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy and the potential future President of the United States of America Joseph Biden completely coincide. The Ukrainian President proves his willingness to fight corruption by concrete actions. For example, last year the creation of the anticorruption system of Ukraine was completed: the work of the Supreme Anticorruption Court was fully launched. The President also made a clear statement in defense of the NACP's anticorruption infrastructure after the Constitutional Court of Ukraine tried to cancel out its functionality.

"I hope and I am confident that the future President of the United States will be our ally in this," Ihor Zhovkva said.

In addition, according to him, an important part of bilateral relations between Ukraine and the United States is the economic component. Relevant steps in this area have taken place despite the US election process. For example, an agreement was recently signed with Westinghouse to switch another Ukrainian nuclear power plant reactor - this time WWER-440 - to US nuclear fuel. Also last week, a meeting was held in the video format between the President of Ukraine and President of Microsoft Brad Smith.

"Many American companies may be interested in the Ukrainian market. And will be interested. And we will move along this track as well," the Deputy Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine said.

At the same time, Ihor Zhovkva noted that our state counts on the support of American partners to complete judicial reform as soon as possible. At a recent meeting of the renewed Commission on Judicial Reform, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy has already set relevant tasks.

"Many of our foreign partners, including the United States, say that the events that are taking place now, in particular due to the Constitutional Court, and the President's determination in this situation allow us to complete judicial reform during this period. We hear this from literally all partners,” Ihor Zhovkva said.

The Deputy Head of the Office of the President also said that preparations for a full-fledged visit of Volodymyr Zelenskyy to the United States are underway, including the elaboration of the agenda of such a trip.

"The economy must also be a priority alongside politics, alongside security issues. That is why such a visit is definitely being prepared,” Ihor Zhovkva said.