US vice president emphasizes the strategic importance of support to Ukraine

Europe, News, US February 20, 2023 , by IRIA No Comments

The United States and the world have moral and strategic interests in supporting Ukraine, U.S. Vice President Kamala D. Harris said on February 18 during the Munich Security Conference.

The U.S. vice president reaffirmed U.S. determination to support Ukraine in its struggle against Russia and stressed that the “Trans-Atlantic alliance is stronger today than at any time in its history”.

Harris noted that Russian forces have engaged in atrocities and war crimes and said that “Let us be clear, Russian forces have pursued a widespread and systemic attack against a civilian population [with] gruesome acts of murder, torture, rape and deportation, execution-style killings, beatings, and electrocutions. Russian authorities have forcibly deported hundreds of thousands of people from Ukraine to Russia, including children”.

Harris stressed that the United States supports the judicial process in Ukraine and international investigations. “Justice must be served. Let us all agree on behalf of all the victims — both known and unknown — justice must be served. Such is our moral interest,” she added.

The U.S. vice president said during the conference that “No nation is safe in a world where one country can violate the sovereignty and territorial integrity of another, where crimes against humanity are committed with impunity, where a country with imperialist ambitions can go unchecked.”

In her #MSC2023 address, US @VP Kamala Harris put a spotlight on #accountability and justice for the crimes committed in #Ukraine. pic.twitter.com/3knmWUW1WK
— Munich Security Conference (@MunSecConf) February 18, 2023

She highlighted that “Our response to the Russian invasion is a demonstration of our collective commitment to uphold international rules and norms, which since the end of World War II, have provided unprecedented security and prosperity not only for the American people, not only for the people of Europe but people around the world.”

Harris said that Russian President Putin continues to undermine the Trans-Atlantic unity and test the resolve and persistence of the Ukrainian people, however, “all are up to the challenges”, she said. “The NATO alliance is stronger now than ever before, and the United States commitment to NATO and to its Article Five is ironclad,” the vice president said.

*^{Vice President Kamala Harris with French President Macron on the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference on February 18, 2023. (Image Credit: Twitter/@VP)}*

Vice President Harris also held a meeting with British Prime Minister Sunak in Munich. She said that the U.S. and the UK are close allies and friends and together they would “take on the global challenges”. A day earlier she also met French President Macron and both leaders highlighted that their commitment to Ukraine endures, and the NATO alliance remains stronger than ever.

Vice President Kamala Harris also held a one-on-one meeting with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and thanked him for his continued leadership on European security and support for Ukraine.