Taylor takes over as U.S. charge d’affaires, Volker plans visit

The latest charge d’affaires at the U.S. Embassy in
Ukraine, William Taylor, began his tenure on June 18, as reported on the
embassy website. He served as U.S. ambassador to Ukraine between 2006 and 2009.
Taylor replaces Kristina Kvien, who began serving as charge d’affaires on May
31 and will continue serving in Kyiv as the deputy chief of mission. The same
day, the U.S. Embassy announced it received a bomb threat and urged the public
to avoid the building. The threat was resolved by the afternoon.

U.S. Special Envoy to Ukraine Kurt Volker told a U.S.
Senate hearing on June 18 that he hopes to visit Kyiv in the coming weeks ahead
of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s planned visit to the White House,
which he said has yet to be scheduled. During his testimony, Volker said it’s
“very important” to preserve the Minsk Accords and not abandon them, as
reported by the Ukrinform news agency. Their most important value is that
Russia formally recognizes Ukraine’s territorial integrity, even if that isn’t
happening on the ground, he said. What’s most lacking is Russia’s will to
fulfill them, he said. Volker added that he believes Ukraine will never return
to Russia’s sphere of influence.

At the same hearing, “Five Years after the Revolution
of Dignity,” former U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine John Herbst lauded the Trump
administration for providing Javelin missiles, but requested that more be
supplied to Ukraine’s Armed Forces, as well as counter-battery radars, which he
said will reduce the loss of life. At the same time, he requested coastal radar
systems, Mark V special operations craft and anti-ship missiles “to help
Ukraine deter Kremlin provocations in the seas” which he said have been growing
in the last 18 months.

The U.S. Defense Department announced on its website
on June 18 that it plans to earmark another USD 250 mln in military aid for
Ukraine. The funds will be used for supporting current training programs and
operational needs in navy infantry and maritime situational awareness;
providing land forces and special operations forces with sniper rifles, grenade
launchers and counterartillery radars; equipment for communications and radio
electronics; enhancing military mobility; night vision equipment and military
medicine.

Zenon Zawada: Taylor will
serve at least three months, but likely longer. The U.S. Congress will be very
skeptical of U.S. President Trump’s nomination of an ambassador to Ukraine and
could turn it into a political issue, even if the candidate is fully qualified.
It’s apparent that the bomb threat was unrelated to Taylor’s first day as the
leading diplomat.

As for the Minsk Accords, we don’t believe they will
be fulfilled for a multitude of reasons. Besides a mutual lack of trust in
fulfilling their provisions, as well as them being unpopular with many
Ukrainians, it’s hard to see how tens of thousands, if not more, Donbas
residents – who are currently accepting Russian citizenship – will be willing
to accept Ukrainian citizenship instead.

In fact, we believe none of the sides involved –
Russia, Ukraine and the West – truly believe the Minsk Accords can be
fulfilled. From the outset of the warfare, we have stated this is a fight to
the finish, which will result in Russia either gaining victory over the West
(by turning Europe away from the U.S., as is currently the trend), or the
Russian state collapsing from the pressure. The warfare in Donbas can drag on
for as much as another decade.