Ukraine wants White House deals to ease fears over US support

• Author: Daniel McLaughlin
• Published date: 01 September 2021
• Publication title: Irish Times (Dublin, Ireland)

The White House said US president Joe Biden wanted to show "unwavering support for Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity in the face of Russia's ongoing aggression" and "backing for [Mr Zelenskiy's] efforts to tackle corruption and implement a reform agenda".

Yet such stock phrases will not soothe Ukraine's frustration over a recent US decision to accept the completion of Russia's strategic Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline to Germany, or its alarm at the chaotic US-led western withdrawal from Afghanistan.

Both events suggest to many Ukrainians that Mr Biden wants to extricate the US from difficult situations abroad and, in the case of the Nord Stream 2 pipeline, that he is keen to leave Europe to sort out its own disputes and may want to stabilise US relations with Russia to facilitate co-operation in certain areas.

The US has been Ukraine's main backer during its seven- year conflict with Russia, which began when a pro-western revolution in Kiev prompted the Kremlin to seize Crimea and foment fighting in eastern Ukraine that has now killed 14,000 people.

"There should be three defence agreements. There will also be important things related to economic agreements," Mr Zelenskiy told Ukrainian media yesterday. "There will be a big debate about...