KYIV, Feb 26 – Ukraine will seek to get the U.S. involved in peace negotiations to end armed conflict in Donbas, while also stepping up military ties in case the talks fail, a senior official said Friday.

Andriy Yermak, President Volodymyr Zelenskiy’s chief of staff, said Ukraine will also ask the U.S. to ramp up and maintain sanctions imposed on Russia until Ukraine restores its territorial integrity.

“Ukraine and the United States are currently facing a civilizational choice: do we stand together to defend democracy, truth, and freedom, or do we yield to an authoritarian power which aggressively interferes in Western domestic affairs and invades other countries at will?” Yermak wrote in an article published by the Atlantic Council on Friday.

The comment underscores an important shift in position of Yermak, the second most powerful official in Ukraine, who has been previously explored possibility of more direct engagement with Russia to end the conflict.

The talks in the Normandy Format, which included Ukraine, Russia, France and Germany, have been stalled for more than a year, while the conflict has been gradually becoming more active in recent months.

By getting the U.S. involved, Ukraine will seek to resume the peace talks to avert any possible military escalation in the region. The hopes are high in Ukraine that the Administration of President Joe Biden will provide stronger support for the diplomatic efforts to end the conflict.

“We in Ukraine are committed to working hand in hand with the new US Administration to defend our shared democratic values and the liberal world order, which remains the cornerstone of peace, freedom, and prosperity,” Yermak said.

President Biden on Friday has reaffirmed the U.S. support for Ukraine’s territorial integrity.

“Seven years ago today, Russia violated international law, the norms by which modern countries engage one another, and the sovereignty and territorial integrity of its neighbor Ukraine when it invaded Crimea,” Biden said in a statement.

“The United States continues to stand with Ukraine and its allies and partners today, as it has from the beginning of this conflict,” Biden said. “On this somber anniversary, we reaffirm a simple truth: Crimea is Ukraine.”

“We will stand with Ukraine against Russia’s aggressive acts,” Biden said. “We will continue to work to hold Russia accountable for its abuses and aggression in Ukraine.

The developments come days after Ukraine has named Oksana Markarova, a former finance minister, as ambassador to the United States. The appointment was widely interpreted as a sign showing Kyiv pushing to upgrade ties with Washington.

Yermak said Ukraine has identified three priorities in for U.S.-Ukraine engagements in the near future.

“Firstly, it is vital for the US to become fully engaged in the negotiation process under the Normandy and Minsk frameworks,” Yermak said. “A coordinated approach between the US, the EU, and Ukraine is indispensable.”

“Secondly, we must increase military cooperation between US and Ukraine in order to further raise the cost of any new military aggression. We need a clear signal from the United States concerning Ukraine’s NATO membership.”

“Thirdly, the United States should consider implementing a new and comprehensive sanctions regime until the war in Ukraine ends. This must remain in place until eastern Ukraine and Crimea return fully to Ukrainian control.

“Any new sanctions should also give due consideration to Nord Stream 2, a pipeline project that threatens to seriously damage the Ukrainian economy and jeopardize energy security in Europe,” Yermak said. (tl/ez)