Ukraine’s victory would mean full expulsion of Russian forces from its land - U.S. State Dept

That’s according to the deputy spokesman for the State Department, Vedant Patel, who spoke at a press briefing on August 17, an Ukrinform correspondent reports.

He noted that next week, on August 24, Ukrainians will celebrate the 32nd anniversary of the declaration of independence, which will be the second Independence Day since the outset of the full-scale invasion.

According to Patel, for the people of Ukraine, "this year's celebrations will be bittersweet" because the nation has been facing the Russian onslaught for the past 18 months.

In addition to merciless bombings, Russia systematically abducts and deports thousands of Ukrainian children, the State Department official said.

At the same time, he emphasized, Ukrainians continue to defend their country, "inspiring the world with extraordinary courage and dedication to freedom."

On this occasion, Patel recalled the words of President Joe Biden that victory in the war is to get Russia out of Ukraine completely “as we support efforts toward a just and lasting peace.”

"Ukraine is and will remain an independent, sovereign, democratic, and prosperous nation," he emphasized. “The U.S., along with our allies and partners, will continue to support Ukraine as long as it takes. So Ukraine can defend itself from Russian aggression and be in the strongest possible position at the negotiating table when the time comes."

Answering questions about the upcoming G20 summit, which will be held in New Delhi on September 9-10  the deputy spokesman for the State Department noted that climate, security issues, "and, of course, Russia's illegal and unprovoked war in Ukraine" will be discussed.

"We would welcome any country that one wants to take steps to support our Ukrainian partners and two secondly, we would welcome any country playing a role in conveying to the Russian Federation how important and dire it is that they leave Ukraine altogether, stop attempting to violate Ukrainian territorial integrity and sovereignty," concluded the spokesman.

As Ukrinform reported earlier Ukraine and its partners are working to ensure that the country is among those invited to the G20 summit in India.