US AMBASSADOR TO UKRAINE BRIDGET BRINK: (Ongoing) …is integral to how the United States backs and supports Ukraine. She and her team helped build and sustain a powerful consensus around the world in support of Ukraine’s valiant defense of your freedom and democracy against Russia’s barbaric conduct in its brutal war.

She also leads UN* efforts to increase food security and provide humanitarian aid, to hold Russia accountable for atrocities and crimes committed in Ukraine, and to rally the support Ukraine needs as Russia continues its cynical and inhumane attacks on Ukrainian infrastructure, among many other problems. .

We are incredibly fortunate to have her powerful voice and moral clarity on the UN Security Council as she exposes Russia’s lies and reinforces respect for the principles of the UN Charter.

And we are also very happy to have him here in Kyiv. Ambassador, thank you very much for being here at this critical time.

Ambassador Thomas Greenfield.

AMBASSADOR LINDA THOMAS-GREENFIELD: Thank you very much, Ambassador. And let me thank you all for being here. It was truly an honor for me to spend the day in Ukraine.

I saw a city and a country attacked. This is a city where Russian bombs rained down on apartments and hospitals, orphanages and playgrounds. And yet, what I saw – and felt – during my visit here was not a destroyed city, but a strengthened city, determined to survive.

The Ukrainian people are more than brave. They are truly an inspiration to the world. I said this to President Zelenskyy, whom I also had the honor of meeting today. During our meeting, I reaffirmed our unwavering and unwavering commitment to the sovereignty and independence of Ukraine.

We discussed the three main priorities of my visit today: holding Russia accountable for its war crimes, addressing the unprecedented food security crisis and ensuring that Ukraine has everything she needs to prepare for the coming winter.

Regarding accountability, I met this morning with victims of war crimes and their families. And they told me how horrible their experiences were. One woman described being abducted by the Russians, tortured, the back pain she still felt, and I could see the pain on her face. I promised him and the others that the world was with them and the world was watching, and that I would share the pain they endured.

In fact, I then visited a forensic laboratory, where I saw how crime scene technicians meticulously examine war crime scenes and collect the necessary evidence. Their findings will be used by the authorities to build the case against the perpetrators of these horrific atrocities.

My message to the Russian forces is therefore simple: we will hold you accountable for your war crimes. We will have justice.

As for food security, as I told President Zelenskyy, that was a personal priority for me. I had the great privilege of visiting a facility that stores and processes grain before it is distributed to Ukrainians and the rest of the world. And I thanked the staff for their heroic and vital work.

We know that Ukraine has long been a breadbasket for much of the developing world. But the Russian invasion turned Ukraine’s rolling wheat fields into battlefields. And Russian forces deliberately attacked much of Ukraine’s agricultural infrastructure. They spoiled fields, bombed grain silos and literally stole tractors.

It’s not just horrific attacks on civilian infrastructure. They are also attacks on the global food supply. And they have exacerbated the worst food security crisis we have ever seen. This vast campaign of sabotage has worsened the situation of countries like Ethiopia, South Sudan, Somalia and Yemen, all of which are facing famine. And famine and acute malnutrition are taking other countries by storm.

Tonight, more than 828 million people will go to bed hungry – 828 million. This is why it is so important that the Black Sea Grain Initiative be renewed. I had a productive discussion on this topic when I met with Infrastructure Minister Kubrakov today.

Finally, as winter approaches, we are very focused on Ukraine’s energy needs. Russia continues to attack Ukraine’s energy infrastructure. But we refuse to let Ukrainians freeze or starve because of Russia’s brutal, unnecessary, illegal and inhumane war. So today I visited an IDP collective center, partially funded by USAID, which is ensuring that displaced people have food, shelter and warmth this winter.

And there, I was proud to announce an additional $25 million from USAID to support vulnerable people in Ukraine during the harsh winter ahead. These new funds will expand our winter planning and response efforts and increase assistance to nearly 75,000 of the most affected households. The United States is proud to provide this humanitarian assistance, as we do everything in our power to help the people of Ukraine during the harsh winter months ahead.

Being in Ukraine opened my eyes and really strengthened my own resolve. I met a girl today, 10 years old, and her only request was, “Can you help us end this war?” I want to go back to school. I want to see my friends again. What can you do to make this happen? »

I am therefore returning to New York determined to hold Russia accountable, to continue to fight the global hunger crisis and to do whatever we can to help Ukraine through the winter months, including to help this young girl to go back to school.

The United States will stand with Ukraine, united with our partners and allies, for as long as it takes. Ukraine will never be a victory for Russia. Democracy will prevail in this country.

Ukrainian Slava. Thanks.

MODERATOR: And we have time for a few questions here. Let’s go to the last row with the red sweater.

QUESTION: Thank you, Your Excellency. Voice of America, Anna Kostiuchenko. Considering that Russia has veto power and strong influence over many countries, is it realistic to exclude Russia from the UN or bring Russia to justice for war crimes in Ukraine? And will we ever see Vladimir Putin at the International Court of Justice? Thanks.

AMBASSADOR THOMAS-GREENFIELD: Is it realistic to hold Russia accountable? Yes it is. And we did everything we could to isolate Russia in the Security Council, and we isolated it in the General Assembly. And although they have the right to veto, they have never been able to veto our condemnation, our votes. We got 141 votes condemning Russia in the General Assembly and we got 143 votes condemning their annexations.

So Russia has heard loud and clear from the world that what it is doing is wrong, and although it has the right of veto, this right of veto does not protect it from condemnation.

MODERATOR: We have time for one or two more. We can go to – yeah.

QUESTION: Thanks. Madam Ambassador, Greg Palkot, Fox News Channel. Thanks for coming here and talking with us. First, diplomacy is your forte – there are reports that the Biden administration is trying to push Kyiv in the direction of talking with Moscow. Did you get a message about this today?

And just a follow-up. Also, it’s a bit of an unstable political time in the United States right now. Did you have any assurances in Kyiv that strong bipartisan support would continue for Ukraine? Thanks.

AMBASSADOR THOMAS-GREENFIELD: Thanks for the question. And on the first question, I think the President of Ukraine spoke for himself when he spoke last night and said he was ready to have diplomacy with the Russians, but they had to respect their borders. They must respect the Charter of the United Nations. They must withdraw their troops from this country. And the international community is at Ukraine’s side. Ukraine has to be in the driver’s seat, but we certainly support their efforts.

And then on the second, yes, the Ukrainians and others asked with the election if it will have an impact, if there is a change if it will have an impact on our support. And what I said to the Ukrainians, and I will say it here: we have seen bipartisan support for Ukraine. The President pledged to continue working with Congress to ensure that this support continues.

MODERATOR: The last one we can go to the side – okay, thanks.

QUESTION: Thank you, Ambassador. Tom Sufi Burridge, ABC News. You will not meet a Ukrainian who does not thank the United States for the level of military support so far, but we know that the United States has so far been unwilling to go further in certain directions – for example, long-range missiles for HIMARS to hit Russian positions well behind enemy lines, and also sign export licenses so Ukraine can even buy Fs – or get F-15s and Fs -16, not even from the United States but from third countries. What indications do you have or can you give to the Ukrainian people, to the Ukrainian government, today that the United States is actually willing to step up military support in particular areas like that, which could really make a difference on the battlefield?

AMBASSADOR THOMAS-GREENFIELD: Look, the Ukrainians have no doubts about American support for their efforts. We have firmly supported them since the beginning of this war and we will continue to support them. We continue to discuss with them their needs for self-defense, and we have pledged to stand firmly behind them until they win this war.

MODERATOR: I think that’s all we have time for. Thanks a lot.

AMBASSADOR THOMAS-GREENFIELD: Good. Thank you all.