Public means ought to be spent to benefit public interest of Ukrainian people versus the alternative - public means spent to benefit private interest.

This was emphasized by Bridget A. BRINK, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United States of America to Ukraine, before the start of the Honorary Lecture of Nobel Peace Prize laureate Oleksandra Matviichuk, organized by the Kyiv Security Forum, founded by the Arseniy Yatsenyuk Foundation “Open Ukraine”.

“The United States supports Ukraine entirely in its fight for its future. Ukraine and Ukrainians have the right to chart their own path and to choose their own destiny” – the Ambassador stressed. 

She also recalled the yesterday’s address by Volodymyr Zelenskyi, the President of Ukraine: the strength of society and the strength of the state are based on justice, emphasizing that “there can be no return to prior times”. 

 “There is no room in the coming Ukraine for those who would divert the state resources for their own interest. Public means ought to be spent to benefit public interest of Ukrainian people versus the alternative - public means spent to benefit private interest. In the strong society people understand and uphold their responsibilities to one another. These words are not founded in the blind faith. It is the faith rooted in the years of living in the country that wanted to take its rightful place in the Euro-Atlantic family,” Brigitte Brink stressed.

The US Ambassador expressed hope that lessons of the past, as well as the hard-learned lesson of russia’s full-scale  war against Ukraine would have mobilized Ukrainians in pursuit of the state and the government that are accountable to all of its people.

We, the United States will continue to support Ukraine in its efforts to reform and ensure institutions that are responsible to the needs of the many, not of the few,” she emphasized. 

Brigitte Brink emphasized that democracy requires energy, effort and relentless determination. 

The diplomat also stressed that the USA supports Ukraine in its existential fight with the russian federation: “We will be your partners in winning this war against russia’s aggression. We will support you in building the future worthy of the sacrifices you have made. And we are proud to be a friend and partner to Ukraine.

The Ambassador also mentioned that this support will continue for as long as it takes and expressed her certainty that Ukraine will prevail.

The Kyiv Security Forum, founded by Arseniy Yatsenyuk’s “Open Ukraine” Foundation, is the main platform in this country to discuss issues of war and peace, national and global security.