Blinken reveals Washington's goals in Ukraine

ARK News… US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken stated that his country is focusing on helping Ukraine to regain the lands that Russia has controlled since February 24, within the framework of the special military operation.

Blinken said during his participation in a forum for the "Wall Street Journal" in Washington, Monday: "We focus on continuing our current moves to provide Ukraine with what it needs to defend ... and to restore the lands occupied since February 24."

The US Secretary of State indicated that in addition to military support, Kyiv needs economic and humanitarian aid as well.

Blinken evaded directly answering the question of whether the Ukrainians would be able to "take back Crimea," saying that the Ukrainians themselves decide "where they want to go and when," but with "our support and the support of dozens of countries around the world."

The chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Mark Milley, said in November that the success of Ukrainian forces in Crimea, which joined Russia in 2014, was "unlikely in the near future."

Blinken stressed that the United States wants peace talks on Ukraine to achieve a "just and lasting" peace, and said: "This (the conflict in Ukraine) will almost certainly end through diplomacy and negotiations. But I think we must see a just and lasting peace," stressing Washington wants to avoid a "deceptive" or "fabricated" peace for Ukraine.

Regarding China, Blinken noted that the United States is engaged in intense competition with it, but does not want a conflict with Beijing, and said: "We are in a state of tense competition. We do not want it to turn into a conflict."

"What we've seen in recent years is that China is moving away from the understanding that the status quo is what needs to be maintained, and is putting increasing pressure on Taiwan," he said.

He added that the United States deems it important to find ways to cooperate with China on issues of common concern.

Source: "Novosti"

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