In an interview with the Georgian service of the Voice of America, McCall, who took an active part in the preparation of a $40 billion aid package to Ukraine, said that the United States should provide Ukraine with everything necessary to confront Russia, and Putin's aggression against a neighboring state became possible, including.

" Ukraine surprised the whole world with what it did: we were told that everything would be over in four days, but it is already the fourth month of its resistance. Now is a critical moment, as Russia is expanding its occupied territories, and Kyiv needs longer-range artillery so that it can not only counter the Russians, but also surpass them in strength,"

" In my opinion, he saw a weakness in the current US president - especially after seeing how the withdrawal of our troops from Afghanistan was carried out, and also after the removal of the Nord Stream [gas pipeline] from sanctions.

Putin saw that the President of the United States was sacrificing our own security interests - which I do not understand at all. I personally actively promoted these sanctions in order to prevent Putin from completing the pipeline in Europe, and to make Europe dependent on Putin's energy sources, and not on its allies.. It was a big mistake. Even Germany today admits it was a mistake. Putin saw weakness in all of this and made the decision [to invade Ukraine]."

VOA: What are the goals of the United States in terms of the outcome of the war?

Michael McCall: " If this does not happen, then we will get a long-term conflict, and no one needs a long-term conflict..

I think that the policy of the United States and NATO should be that Ukraine can maintain its sovereignty and push the Russians back to their borders. Many people talk about negotiations, but now it is more difficult because of [Russia's] war crimes.. We have documented it. I passed my war crimes bill in Congress. It is very difficult to turn back the clock and ask for negotiations.. Putin has crossed a serious line by committing war crimes, and this complicates matters greatly.. But, ultimately, the issue of negotiations depends on the Ukrainian people and President Volodymyr Zelensky."

" This may also apply to Moldova and Georgia. At the same time, Washington does not speak out about the possibility of becoming a security guarantor.. If Ukraine becomes neutral, will this put an end to NATO expansion in the region and will it be in the interests of the United States?

MM: " It is noteworthy that Finland and Sweden are now going to join NATO.. So this [invasion of Ukraine] had exactly the opposite intended effect that Putin wanted.. He did not divide or weaken NATO. In fact, the NATO alliance is stronger than ever."

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MM: " I think that. this would be a huge boost for Zelenskiy in Ukraine if this case got off the ground. I think that Ukraine deserved its membership [in NATO] and that would be very good, because I know that there have been reservations in the past about dragging us into a war. However, there were problems with corruption and the fact that previous presidents may have been heavily influenced by Russia itself.. I do not think that we have such a question regarding Zelensky. So it really depends on how the conflict ends up in the end, and I think that EU membership will indeed be the first precondition for Ukraine's full NATO membership..