U.S. Secretary of Defense James Mattis and U.S. Special Representative for Ukraine Kurt Volker will be in Kyiv this week to participate in Ukraine’s Independence Day celebrations, as well as underline America’s commitment to its strategic partnership with the country.
On Monday U.S. Special Representative for Ukraine Kurt Volker was to meet with the Kremlin envoy Vladislav Surkov behind closed doors in Minsk, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Belarus reported on Aug. 21.
Surkov is a top aide to the Russian President Vladimir Putin who is thought to have played a central role in planning Russia’s hybrid war in eastern Ukraine and the annexation of Crimea in 2014. He is believed to have influence over the Russian-led forces in the Donetsk People’s Republic.
It will be the first meeting with Surkov for Volker, who was appointed in July as a replacement for Victoria Nuland.
After Belarus, Volker will travel to Vilnius, Lithuania, to meet with senior government officials to discuss the way forward in Ukraine, the U.S. Department of State reported on Aug. 18.
“On Aug. 23, (Volker) will travel to Kyiv, Ukraine, where he will join Secretary of Defence James Mattis in meetings with senior Ukrainian government officials to discuss next steps in diplomatic negotiations to restore Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity,” the report read.
Secretary Mattis will stop in Jordan and Turkey before coming to Kyiv on Aug. 24. Besides attending the military parade in Kyiv, he will meet with President Poroshenko and Defence Minister Stepan Poltorak.
“I’m going there (…) to underscore our commitment to a strategic partnership and our support for their sovereignty and territorial integrity, and highlight the U.S. train, equip and advise efforts to build the capacity of their forces,” Mattis said, quoted by the U.S. Department of Defence on Aug. 20.
“It’s not easy making a democracy. It’s not easy making a sovereign state, especially right now with the way Russia has been violating territorial integrity,” he added.
Mattis emphasized that he supports U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson in terms of continuing to work with Ukraine and NATO allies, as well as pressing Russia to live up to its Minsk commitments.
