Herbst ready to help provide Ukraine with clear security guarantees due to Nord Stream 2

John Herbst, president of the Atlantic Council think tank and former U.S. ambassador to Ukraine, says he is ready to help raise the issue of the need to provide Ukraine with clear security guarantees and increase sanctions pressure on Russia, including due to the construction of Nord Stream 2.

He said this during a meeting with Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine Oleksiy Danilov on September 14, Ukrinform reports with reference to the NSDC press service.

"During the meeting, the parties discussed a wide range of issues of Ukrainian-American cooperation, paying special attention to cooperation in the military sphere, in particular, increasing U.S. military assistance to Ukraine," the report reads.

According to Danilov, further deepening of cooperation between the two countries, in particular in the exchange of experience between Ukrainian and U.S. military, "will have a cumulative effect."

The parties exchanged views on the security situation in Europe and the world, in particular in the context of Russia's aggressive actions in the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov and the completion of the construction of Russia's Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline.

Danilov reiterated that Nord Stream 2 is a serious security challenge not only for Ukraine but for the whole of Europe. "It's not just about the economic component. For example, the question arises, how will the Russians guard Nord Stream 2? This gas pipeline will be a serious test for everyone," he said.

The parties paid special attention to the recent meeting of President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky with U.S. President Joe Biden at the White House.

Herbst believes Zelensky's visit to Washington was a success. In particular, he noted that security issues became key during the meeting of the presidents.

“President Biden highlighted the priority of security and the need to support Ukraine,” he said, adding that the revival of Ukraine-U.S. Strategic Partnership Commission is a call to action.

Herbst expressed his readiness to help advance the issue of the need to provide Ukraine with clear security guarantees and increase sanctions pressure on the Russian Federation, including due to the construction of Nord Stream 2.

As Ukrinform reported, on September 10, NSDC Secretary Danilov discussed with Japanese Ambassador to Ukraine Takashi Kurai the deepening of bilateral cybersecurity cooperation between the security agencies of the two countries.

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