During a working visit to the United States as part of the Ukrainian delegation headed by First Deputy Prime Minister – Minister of Economy Yuliia Svyrydenko, Head of the Presidential Office Andriy Yermak met with representatives of American expert circles and opinion leaders.
The meeting was attended by William Taylor, former U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine and Vice President for Europe and Russia at the United States Institute of Peace; John Herbst, Director of the Eurasia Center at the Atlantic Council and former U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine; Jonathan Katz, Senior Director at the Brookings Institution for Anti-Corruption, Democracy and Security; and other leading experts.
Andriy Yermak noted that the experts present at the meeting are committed to supporting Ukraine because they understand the aspirations of Ukrainians for freedom and democracy and are well aware of all the threats posed by Russia and other aggressors to Europe, the United States and the entire world order.
He added that Ukrainian and American experts share a common view of the threatening trends of today.
“Autocracies have already united and started an undeclared world war. Russia, Iran and North Korea have deliberately supported Hamas to ignite the Middle East. The goal is chaos and the consistent weakening of democracies,” the Head of the Office of the President noted.
The parties discussed ways to step up efforts to accelerate Ukraine's victory and strengthen democratic forces in the world.
During a frank and productive conversation, it was noted that the most important weapon in countering aggression is unity both within countries and among allies: the United States, the EU, and Ukraine.
Andriy Yermak emphasized the importance of timely delivery of weapons to Ukraine to ensure proper operation of air defense systems to protect against terrorist missile attacks and to successfully continue the counteroffensive.
The meeting also touched upon the issue of directing frozen Russian assets to the needs of Ukraine.
At the same time, the Head of the President's Office noted that Ukraine's accession to NATO, provision of security guarantees, and membership in the European Union would contribute to the unification and strengthening of the democratic world, for which important reforms are being carried out in our country even during the war.
Andriy Yermak noted that the path to a just and lasting peace for Ukraine and the world will be ensured by the implementation of the Peace Formula initiated by Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
More than 80 countries have already joined the work on the action plan based on it.
“Ukraine's victory and destruction of Russia's military potential will mean the destruction of the aggressors' plans and the reduction of terrorists' influence in the world. Therefore, helping Ukraine is not only about saving the Ukrainian nation. It is the protection of all Europeans and Americans, the protection of freedom and security of all people on the planet,” the Head of the Presidential Office emphasized.
Andriy Yermak also thanked the interlocutors for their work in support of Ukraine, as these efforts contribute to the victory of democracy and building a safer world based on respect for the principles of international law.
