Jake Sullivan Says US Wants ‘Independent’ Ukraine and a ‘Weakened’ Russia

 

Sullivan says the US will keep arming Ukraine and sanctioning Russia

by Dave DeCamp 

Posted onApril 11, 2022CategoriesNewsTagsRussia, Ukraine

On Sunday, National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan said the US would ultimately like to see an “independent” Ukraine and would like to see Russia “weakened and isolated.”

“Our policy is unequivocal that we will do whatever we can to help Ukraine succeed,” Sullivan told NBC’s Meet the Press. He said to achieve that goal, the US will continue to keep arming Ukraine and taking action to hurt Russia’s economy.

“We need to keep giving them support — military support and strong economic sanctions to improve their position, their posture at the negotiating table,” Sullivan said. “But at the end of the day, what we want to see is a free and independent Ukraine, a weakened and isolated Russia, and a stronger, more unified, more determined West.”

While Russia and Ukraine have been engaged in negotiations, the Biden administration has shown little interest in diplomacy and appears to be preparing for a long-term conflict. Last week, Sullivan warned of a “protracted” war as Russia is turning its focus on Ukraine’s eastern Donbas region.

Chairman of the Joint Gen. Mark Milley made similar comments and said the war could last for years. ” I do think this is a very protracted conflict, and I think it’s at least measured in years. I don’t know about a decade, but at least years for sure,” he said.

Since Russia invaded on February 24, the US has pledged $1.7 billion in new military aid for Ukraine. More is coming as NATO officials recently agreed to start sending heavier weapons into the war zone. In a different interview on Sunday, Sullivan said the US would give Ukraine the “weapons it needs.”

https://news.antiwar.com/2022/04/11/jake-sullivan-says-us-wants-independent-ukraine-and-a-weakened-russia/