Reforms, recovery and opening airport: Yermak, Blinken meet in Washington, DC

Blinken shared the information on X. 

"Met with Ukrainian Presidential Office Head Andriy Yermak in Washington. Our commitment to Ukraine is steadfast. We will stand with Ukraine in its current fight and for the future," Blinken wrote. 

According to Yermak, he briefed Blinken in detail on the situation at the front. 

"American weapons have proven their effectiveness on the battlefield and help to deter the Russian aggressor. I informed the Secretary of State about the important needs of the Ukrainian Defense Forces. I emphasized the importance of providing our country with air defense systems," said Yermak. 

He added that with the approach of winter, Ukraine expects Russian missile terror to intensify. 

"Therefore, we really need air defense and missile defense systems that will protect Ukrainian cities, key critical infrastructure facilities, as well as grain corridor routes. I emphasized the importance of concluding a bilateral agreement between Ukraine and the United States on security guarantees as soon as possible to implement the G7 Joint Declaration on Support for Ukraine signed in Vilnius on July 12 this year," Yermak said. 

The head of the Presidential Office also spoke at the Hudson Institute in Washington, Ukrinform reports.

"Our counteroffensive is developing, and we know how to achieve victory," the head of the Presidential Office emphasized.

He added that President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, "has a clear plan", among the priorities of which is the development of Ukraine's defense industry and the deployment of its own arms production. However, Yermak noted that Ukraine needs more weapons now.

He reminded that Russia still has air superiority and is able to produce missiles despite the sanctions. In addition, it buys Iranian strike drones and North Korean missiles.

"So, we need to impose more restrictions on them. And we especially need air defense systems," Yermak emphasized.

He mentioned that the Kremlin's top brass is "obsessed with revenge for the Cold War." And in today's world, built on partnership and consensus of interests, Russia has no competitive advantage. So, the only chance for the Kremlin is to create a situation where the difference between peace and war becomes illusory.

"There will be pockets of instability around the world until Ukraine wins. That is why it is not only in our strategic interests, it is also in the interests of the United States," the Ukrainian official emphasized.

He also said that now is not the time to get “tired.” If Ukraine can stand and win, then the rules-based world order will also stand, he said.

"We are determined to restore Ukraine's sovereignty over the entire internationally recognized territory," Yermak said.

In addition, he emphasized that a "reliable umbrella" of support must be created to rebuild Ukraine after the devastating war. According to him, this will allow one of Ukraine's airports to resume operations.

"We are already working on this with our partners," Yermak said, adding that the next year will be crucial in this regard.

The head of the Presidential Office also assured that Ukraine continues to reform despite the war, and this requires great efforts and financial injections. In this regard, he emphasized that part of the efforts to defend and restore Ukraine could be funded by Russian assets.

• On Monday, the Ukrainian delegation headed by Andriy Yermak held meetings with US officials to discuss, among other things, further US support for Ukraine.