NEW YORK, July 29 (RIA Novosti) – Ukrainian Foreign Minister Pavlo Klimkin on Tuesday visited Washington where he vowed to spend much sought-after US funds on rebuilding the country’s war-ravaged eastern region that has become the center of Kiev’s “anti-terror” campaign.
“It’s about restoration of disrupted infrastructure. We’ve been trying to restore disrupted electricity networks, water supply, gas supply. We have been trying to bring normal life back to the people of Donbas,” Klimkin claimed at a joint press conference with his US counterpart, John Kerry.
“And I am grateful to the US for urgent assistance to the people of Donbas which should be aimed at restoring infrastructure,” he added.
Klimkin spoke in a joint press conference with his US Secretary of State John Kerry. The US will provide about $7 million to rebuild devastated parts of eastern Ukraine and Congress may provide more money in trade schemes, Kerry said.
“We are ready for local elections. We are ready [for] the real representative of Donbas, a real representative of Donetsk and Lugansk, should take responsibility of the situation on the ground, should take responsibility on the de-escalation, of economic and social development on Donbas,” Klimkin said.
Washington plans to give Kiev $7 million in aid, and Congress may provide more funds in business development schemes, US Secretary of State John Kerry said.
On Monday, US Deputy National Security Adviser Ben Rhodes said the government was still undecided on whether to favor Ukraine’s request for lethal weapons to fight what they claim to be Russia-backed “separatists.”
Moscow denies supporting self-defense forces in turbulent Ukrainian regions in southeast. It has repeatedly condemned Kiev’s military campaign against the population in the east of the country and urged for an immediate stop to the punitive operation, advocating a peaceful resolution to the crisis.
