The US ambassador in Kiev appointed last April: “Let’s expose Moscow’s meddling.” After the evacuation, the stars and stripes flag returned to flying in the sky of the Ukrainian capital in May
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KIEV — Bridget Brink, appointed US ambassador to Ukraine last April, began his diplomatic career in Belgrade during the war in Kosovo. “I closed that embassy … and I reopened this one.” American personnel had been evacuated from Kiev a few days before the Russian invasion in February but the flag returned to fly over the headquarters in May.. “I have personally seen many mass graves, crimes and war atrocities in just four months,” says Brink al Courier while in Izyum, in the North-East, a new mass grave is discovered. “It is not something I would have ever imagined seeing again on European soil in my life or that we should ever see. I am concerned about what we will discover when the Ukrainians continue to push Russia back from the occupied territories. In Mariupol, some estimates say that 100,000 people have died. It is tremendous and on a scale probably larger than what people imagine. ‘ The horror of Izyum – writes on Twitter the secretary of state Antony Blinken whom the ambassador accompanied in recent days to visit the six-year-old children mutilated by Russian rockets – should «strengthen our support for the courageous Ukrainians who are trying to free their homeland “.
Zelensky yesterday reiterated: «Russia is a terrorist state. I don’t know why the world is slow to recognize it ». Will Izyum change anything?
“The designation of Russia as a sponsor state of terrorism is currently under active discussion, both internally in our government and with Congress. There is a real interest in avoiding unintended consequences. I can say that on the whole the people and entities who helped Russia fight this war are already under sanctions, with the same consequences that any designation would have. But we are examining this designation and evaluating everything we can do to make Russia held accountable and to prevent and deter future aggressions ”.
Will Putin be accountable for war crimes? Could he be tried in the Hague Court?
“I don’t know what the specific process or mechanism will be, our position is that those responsible for war crimes and atrocities must be accountable: it is a moral question. It is impossible not to see the evidence, the photos of the mass graves, of the dead, and not to feel – as a human being and as a diplomat – that whoever is responsible must be held accountable ».
What should we expect from Putin? Can he get to use the nuclear weapon?
“I certainly don’t want to guess what Putin might decide to do. But I can focus on what we are trying to do: help Ukraine defend itself and discourage future aggression. You are taking place at the gates of Europe and NATO. It is a very dangerous action to launch a full-scale invasion into another country. And there is a cost to everyone, especially the Ukrainians who fight and die, for us and for Europe. It is a war of choice, unprovoked and unjustified, it is destabilizing in itself and with wider consequences than Ukraine alone ”.
The US State Department revealed that Russia has paid $ 300 million since 2014 to influence political parties in Europe, a news that emerged on the eve of the vote in Italy. Why have you posted this information now?
“I can’t talk about the specific intelligence aspects of the case. But Russia’s attempts to influence democratic processes in Europe and in my own country are extremely dangerous and we think that when we see them we have to say so. They are part of the Russian strategy to undermine democracies around the world and potentially some of our strongest partners, but also NATO and the EU. My opinion is that we must publicly expose what is happening ».
Negotiations are at a standstill. And Zelensky talks about taking back Crimea, unacceptable for Putin. How to reactivate them?
“In Washington we believe that the definition of victory falls to the democratically elected leader of Ukraine, President Zelensky. When and if you decide to go and negotiate, it’s up to him. Our role is to provide security and other assistance to him and the Ukrainian government to achieve that goal. We want and hope for a solid, independent and prosperous Ukraine, integrated into the Euro-Atlantic institutions. We think it is good for Ukraine and the Ukrainians, but also for Europe and the United States. It would make Ukraine safe and stable in Eastern Europe ».
Blinken says the advance may give Zelensky more strength at the negotiating table. Does the goal remain to deal?
“It is encouraging what we have seen on the battlefield, but I don’t think this will be a quick war. It is true that successes on the ground help to end wars quickly, I hope, but I have spent a lot of time in this region, where there are protracted Russian-fueled and very destabilizing conflicts. And Italy is closer to them than America. I have seen the negative consequences of these conflicts here and in other areas in Eastern Europe and the Caucasus. The president said that we will stand by Ukraine for as long as necessary and I want to emphasize that in politics it is important to avoid “the law of the strongest” but as we see there is a terrible cost for the Ukrainian people and for all of us: thousands of people are killed for Russia’s decision to invade another country ”.
September 17, 2022 (change September 17, 2022 | 23:35)
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