The EU’s top diplomat expressed confidence that the United States will continue to support Ukraine, even after lawmakers in Washington dropped a funding package for Kyiv in order to avert a government shutdown.
“I’m sure this decision will be reconsidered and altogether, we’ll continue to be on your side,” Josep Borrell told reporters in Kyiv on Monday, referring to the controversial funding move demanded by Republican lawmakers in the U.S.
Ukraine’s foreign minister, Dmytro Kuleba, similarly downplayed the decision by the U.S. Congress, which he labeled as an “incident.”
“We’re working with both sides of the Congress to ensure it doesn’t repeat again, under any circumstances,” Kuleba told reporters, speaking alongside Borrell.
EU foreign ministers also expressed confidence that the U.S. will continue backing Ukraine as long as Joe Biden remains in office.
France’s Catherine Colonna underlined that “President Biden expressed his commitment, so we have no doubt that the U.S. will remain on the side of Ukraine.’’
EU foreign ministers gathered for an informal meeting in Kyiv Monday, where they are expected to discuss the delivery of weapons to Ukraine.
The meeting began shortly after pro-Russia Robert Fico won an election in Slovakia, raising the alarm in EU capitals that Bratislava might withdraw its support for Ukraine.
Kuleba said it is “too early to judge how the elections will impact the support for Ukraine, and we need to wait until a coalition is formed.”