US President Joe Biden is ready to push Ukraine “hard” to realize its own potential. This was stated by the former United States Ambassador to Kiev Stephen Pifer.
“Biden is ready to push Ukraine towards reforms and, perhaps, even sometimes in a tough form with good intentions to implement key steps,” the Ukrinform agency quoted the American diplomat on Thursday, March 4.
He noted that the slowdown in reforms in the country over the past year is causing concern in the West.
According to Pifer, such “tough methods” that will allow Kiev to carry out the necessary measures aimed at curbing corruption will be useful for the country. However, not everyone, in his opinion, can welcome Washington’s pressure on these issues.
“Joe Biden is exactly the partner that Ukraine needs now,” the former US ambassador concluded.
Earlier, on March 1, it became known that the new American administration had decided to provide Ukraine with another $ 125 million as a new military aid package. Pentagon spokesman John Kirby said the package includes training, equipping and briefing efforts to help Ukraine “preserve the country’s territorial integrity and secure its borders.”
On February 24, the Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Lieutenant General Sergei Korneichuk, said that it was important for Ukraine to achieve the compatibility of the army with the military formations of the alliance, as well as to receive financial assistance. He noted that practical and material and technical assistance from the alliance is a priority. In this regard, in 2021, Ukraine will continue to carry out reforms in accordance with NATO standards.