Michael Carpenter: If Ukraine continues the reforms the US will continue to support it

“If Ukraine continues the reforms, the United States will continue to support it,” – stressed Michael Carpenter, the Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense during the 9th Kyiv Security Forum, organized by the Arseniy Yatsenyuk Open Ukraine Foundation.

“As for the security aid for Ukraine, especially concerning reforms of its armed forces, I am pleased to note that in 2016 the US will give the country 335 million dollars for conventional forces and Special Operations Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. At the same time the US plans to double assistance for the Border Service and the National Guard of Ukraine. There has been done a lot in Ukraine after the Revolution of dignity when we speak of reforms. We hope that Ukraine will not turn off from the road of reform, for the United States plans to contribute to its positive changes,” – said Michael Carpenter.

“The United States understands that Ukraine should implement very ambitious package of reforms and resist aggression in the East,” – said the US military official and pointed out that if Ukraine doesn`t carry out these reforms today, it will never do. In this regard, he noted that “there may be no better time to carry out reforms in Ukraine than today”.

In addition to assessment of reforms in Ukraine, M. Carpenter also raised the question of the situation in the Donbas: “The situation in the Donbas is now very fragile. We note significant ceasefire violations by pro-Russian forces. Moreover, Russian weapons constantly fill the Donbas. The OSCE mission has repeatedly fallen under mortar fire, it is often denied in access to many places in the Donbas for inspections. All this leads to the conclusion that Russia has resorted to a controlled escalation of the situation in the Donbas. Furthermore, the Russian side now actively manipulates its’ narrative about the events in the Donbas, in particular, accusing Ukraine of violating the Minsk agreement.”

“Today the United States believe that the implementation of the Minsk agreements is the only way to resolve the conflict in Eastern Ukraine. But for this Russia must fulfill at least the first points: ceasefire, open access to the entire territory of the Donbas, including Ukraine-Russia border and the withdrawal of weapons from the boundary line. And until Russia fulfills them, the US policy will focus on remaining sanctions against it, as long as Ukraine has no control over its’ eastern border and the Crimea", - said M. Carpenter.

FOR YOUR INFORMATION:

The annual international event Kyiv Security Forum launched by Arseniy Yatsenyuk Foundation Open Ukraine in 2007 is a platform for debate on the most pressing security issues in Europe and the Black Sea Region. 

Internet broadcast of the Forum:

9th Kyiv Security Forum (Ukrainian):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k4bx8DXN4wk

9th KYIV SECURITY FORUM (ENGLISH)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xEG5fdmhG2g