“Good to be in Kyiv today. U.S. support for Ukraine is unwavering, and I'm intent on underscoring this as I meet with Ukrainian government leaders to discuss ways we can advance our strategic partnership and reinforce Ukraine's position as a free and democratic state”, U.S. State Secretary Mike Pompeo posted in Twitter on January 30 after arriving in the Ukrainian capital on an official visit.

These words of the American State Secretary were confirmed by results of his meetings and talks with the leadership of Ukraine that took place on January 31. Foreign Minister Vadym Prystaiko described his meeting with his American counterpart, “Mike Pompeo has assured of the United States’ commitment to Ukraine in its efforts to stop Russian aggression and restore its sovereignty and territorial integrity in its entirety”.

During the joint briefing that followed talks with the U.S. State Secretary, PresidentVolodymyr Zelenskyy, said, “Kyiv and Washington have a strong relationship which is based on complete trust, mutual understanding and long-term common interests. Important is the fact that the systemic support of Ukraine enjoys a wide bipartisan consensus in Congress. The 700-million-dollar program of financial aid to be provided to Ukraine this year can serve as a convincing evidence of this support”.

Zelenskyy thanked the United States for the effective policy of sanctions against the aggressor and invited American businessmen to invest in Ukraine. In the words of the Ukrainian President, Ukraine has plans to implement new forms of partnership with the United States in the sphere of national security. As part of these plans, Ukraine will buy American arms with the aim of making its army highly efficient and combat-ready.

Referring to the previous resignation of Kurt Volker who served as U.S. Special Representative for Ukraine negotiations, President Zelenskyy expressed hope that the United States would be involved more actively in the peaceful settlement of a conflict in eastern Ukraine. As for the return of the annexed Crimean peninsula, the President suggested that it would be expedient if a State Department official be appointed to handle this important task.

During his two-day official visit to Kyiv, the U.S. State Secretary had talks with the Defense Minister, laid flowers at the Wall of Glory in St. Michael Square to commemorate the killed in Donbas, met with religious leaders, public figures and businessmen.

The visit of the American top-ranking official and his message of support in such difficult for this country times received, on a whole, positive media coverage. However, some political analysts argue that his visit has pursued American political interests as well. For instance, Ivan Yakovyna says, “The visit of Pompeo to Ukraine at this particular time amidst impeachment hearings against Donald Trump may speak not only of intentions of the American leaders to seek improvement in ties with our country but also of the State Secretary’s wish to be convinced that Kyiv will bring them no surprises”.

The newspaper Holos Ukrainy