Sullivan answered questions on the Russia-Ukraine War and foreign policy at the ongoing Aspen Security Forum in Colorado.
Defending that Yevgeniy Prigojin, the founder of the Russian private security company Wagner, revolted because he was quite unhappy with the course of the war in Ukraine, Sullivan evaluated that if Russian President Vladimir Putin had been successful in Ukraine, Prigojin would not have attempted such an attempt.
Sullivan stated that the Wagner group is not currently fighting in Ukraine, adding that some of its elements are in Belarus, while others are in different places.
Stating that the absence of Wagner, who is active in Ukraine, may cost Russia, Sullivan said that it is very difficult to predict what will happen in the coming months.
F-16 training to Ukraine
Sullivan said that they are working to help Ukraine use F-16 warplanes effectively and gain the skills they will need in this context.
Stating that they will act as quickly as possible on this issue, Sullivan stated that they are in the process of working with the allies on the training of Ukrainian pilots and that technical issues are being resolved.
Sullivan informed that he cannot say the exact date when the training of Ukrainian pilots will begin, but that it will take weeks, not months.
Regarding the land-to-ground ATACMS missiles, Sullivan stated that US President Joe Biden and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenkiy discussed this issue.
Sullivan stated that the decision to give ATACMS missiles to Ukraine is with President Biden.
“We have no information about the Chinese Foreign Minister”
Sullivan, to a question about the fate of Chinese Foreign Minister, China Gang, who has not been seen for a long time, replied that he had no information about it.
Consultant Sullivan noted:
“All we know is that Foreign Minister (Antony) Blinken met with Vang Yi (Director of the Central Foreign Affairs Commission Office of the Communist Party of China) while planning to meet with the (Chinese) Foreign Minister at the recent ASEAN conference in Indonesia. Because Yi came to (this summit) instead of Foreign Minister. We have no further information on this matter.”