Ukraine's Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba granted an interview to FRANCE 24 on the sidelines of the G7 summit in Italy, where Ukraine and the US are signing a 10-year bilateral security agreement. Kuleba called the deal a "landmark event", noting that it's the first of its kind between the two countries since Ukraine gained independence in 1991. Kuleba noted that Kyiv is signing similar agreements "with all G7 countries and beyond", saying that a "new security architecture" is being built around Ukraine.
Ahead of the G7 summit, negotiators also reached a deal to back a $50 billion loan to Ukraine, using interest earned on profits from frozen Russian assets as collateral. Kuleba called this "a major step in the right direction".
However, he said that more action on Russian assets was required. "We have to move forward until the issue is fixed and Russia pays with its frozen assets for the damage it inflicted on Ukraine, for all the destruction it brought to our country".
Turning to the issue of Western military aid to Ukraine, Kuleba reiterated Ukraine's need for sophisticated aerial batteries. "Whatever the price of air defence systems or missiles is, the damage caused by Russian ballistic missiles to Ukraine's energy and civilian infrastructure is much, much more expensive. So the best way to save money from helping Ukraine to recover from this damage is actually to provide Ukraine with air defence systems," he asserted.
'We are not afraid of anything'
On June 15-16, Switzerland will host a peace summit on Ukraine. Dozens of countries have confirmed their participation, but Russia is not invited. Kuleba claimed that Russia "would obstruct the summit".
"Once the coalition around UN charter principles and territorial integrity of Ukraine is built, we will find ways, appropriate ways, to reach out to Russia and make them negotiate in good faith. This is the strategy," he said.
Asked if he was worried about the rise of far-right, pro-Russian parties in Europe, following their strong showing in the European elections, Kuleba brushed off concerns.
"We are not afraid of anything; we will be managing any reality that we will have to face," he told FRANCE 24. Kuleba said this also applied to a potential return of Donald Trump to the White House.
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