Amid tensions with Russia and Belarus, Biden to welcome Ukrainian president to White House

The American President, Joe Biden will receive his Ukrainian counterpart, Volodimir Zelenski, on August 30 to strengthen bilateral relations in the face of Russia’s “aggression”.the White House announced Wednesday.

Visit of Zelensky in the White House “will reaffirm the strong support of the United States for the sovereignty of Ukraine and its territorial integrity, in the face of the constant aggression of Russia in the Donbass and in the Crimea”, White House spokeswoman Jen Psaki said in a statement.

It will also be used for strengthen “close cooperation” of the two countries on “energy security” and Biden’s endorsement of “President Zelenski’s efforts to fight corruption and implement a reform program based on shared democratic values“He added.

In addition, this will be an occasion where it is likely that Kiev will push for more support in its protracted war with the Russian-backed separatists.

The meeting is announced at a time when Ukraine is concerned about the construction of the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline, which will connect Russia and Germany across the Baltic Sea, and is nearing completion.

Ukraine fears that This gas pipeline allows Russia to have the gas transit route through Ukrainian territory, although the United States and Germany they insisted that they would do everything possible to prevent it.

The United States and Germany were to announce on Wednesday that they had reached an agreement on the gas pipeline, to which Biden decided to stop opposing it and not punish him with penalties because he is practically built.

The US Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs, Victoria Nuland brought forward a key detail of the deal during a Senate hearing on the pipeline, which was strongly opposed by many lawmakers on both sides in Washington.

“Germany has made a commitment, in this agreement with us, that if Russia tries to use energy as a weapon or commits further aggressive acts against Ukraine, Germany will take action at the national level ”, Nuland insured.

Berlin has further guaranteed that in this case will push for “effective measures at European level, including sanctions, to limit Russian capabilities exporting to Europe in the energy sector, ”added the diplomat.

(With information from EFE)

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