Ukrainian Presidential Office Chief Concludes Strategic Visit to Washington Focused on Sanctions, Security, and Diplomacy
Andriy Yermak, Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine, concluded a high-stakes visit to the United States this week, aimed at reinforcing transatlantic unity in the face of continued Russian aggression.
The Gaze reports on this with reference to Yermak's posts on social media and Newsmax.
In meetings with U.S. Special Representatives Keith Kellogg (Ukraine) and Steve Witkoff (Middle East), Yermak briefed the Trump administration on Ukraine’s defensive operations and the outcome of recent negotiations with Russia in Istanbul. He characterized Moscow’s approach as deliberately obstructionist, designed to delay proceedings and evade sanctions, rather than to seek a genuine cessation of hostilities.
Highlighting a bipartisan legislative push in Congress, Yermak welcomed Senator Lindsey Graham’s draft sanctions package targeting nations that continue to purchase Russian energy.
He stressed that synchronized action between the U.S. and the EU is essential to amplify economic pressure on Moscow and prevent sanctions circumvention. “We are counting on a new wave of strong, targeted sanctions. Coordination with European allies is not just preferable, it is critical to their effectiveness,” Yermak noted in an interview with Newsmax.
In addition to pressing for expanded military aid, Yermak reiterated Ukraine’s need for binding security guarantees. He confirmed that Kyiv is actively working with Washington on a new bilateral security agreement and a prospective free trade deal, signaling Ukraine’s long-term alignment with Western institutions.
The humanitarian dimension of the war also featured prominently. Yermak delivered updated lists of Ukrainian children forcibly deported by Russian authorities and stressed the urgency of international pressure to secure their return. “This is a moral imperative. These children must come home,” he said.
Yermak further invited Steve Witkoff to visit Ukraine to witness the realities of war on the ground to strengthen direct diplomatic engagement and showcase the resilience of the Ukrainian people.
Throughout the visit, Yermak expressed Ukraine’s gratitude for continued U.S. support and bipartisan unity in Congress. “Our partnership with the United States remains essential, not only for Ukraine’s defense, but for the stability of the entire Euro-Atlantic space,” he concluded.
Read more on The Gaze: Are Ukraine’s Allies Ready to Take Sanctions Against Russia to the Next Level in 2025?