U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and Minister of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Vadym Prystaiko during a meeting in Kyiv on Jan. 31 discussed the development of military and economic cooperation between the countries, Ukrainian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Kateryna Zelenko has said.
“A very constructive meeting between FM Prystaiko & Sec Pompeo in Kyiv. The counterparts discussed: further deepening of the U.S. – Ukraine Strategic Partnership; advancing military and economic cooperation; strengthening bipartisan U.S. support to Ukraine,” she wrote on Twitter on Friday.
In addition, Zelensky noted that Pompeo reiterated the continued support by the United States of Ukraine in countering Russian aggression, upholding the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine, strengthening Ukraine’s defense capabilities and implementing important reforms.
At the same time, the press service of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine noted the agenda of the face-to-face meeting between Pompeo and Prystaiko, as well as among the delegations, covered issues of bilateral political and practical interaction between Ukraine and the United States.
“The main focus of the talks was, in particular, on the coordinated actions of Ukraine and the United States in the international arena in order to restore the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Ukraine, practical cooperation in the field of security, as well as maintaining active bilateral dialogue at all levels within the framework of the existing Ukrainian-American formats strategic partnership,” the message reads.
In this context, Prystaiko expressed deep gratitude to the U.S. Administration and Congress for the systematic support and expansion of practical assistance to Ukraine. He stressed that Ukraine is a partner of the United States in maintaining international security and is interested in attracting strategic U.S. investment in the military-technical, energy and other sectors.
“Pompeo during the negotiations assured that the United States fully supported Ukraine in ending the aggression of Russia and restoring Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, a practical confirmation of which was the introduction by the United States on January 29 of a package of additional sanctions regarding the actions of individuals and companies in Crimea. Along with this, the U.S. side placed particular emphasis on the importance of maintaining high dynamics and the effectiveness of reforms in Ukraine,” the ministry said.
Following the talks, the parties agreed to continue cooperation in international organizations and maintain contacts on all issues of the bilateral agenda for practical cooperation.
