Ukraine's Defence Minister holds talks with Director, Strategy and Policy, Headquarters U.S. European Command

On June 18, Minister of Defence of Ukraine Col. Gen. Stepan Poltorak held talks with Maj. Gen. Randy A. Kee, Director, Strategy and Policy, Headquarters U.S. European Command.

The parties discussed the issues of the U.S.-Ukraine cooperation in the framework of activities of the Joint Coordination Committee for Military Cooperation and Defence Reforms founded in June 2014 in order to assist Ukraine in reforms of the state security sector and increase capabilities of the Ukrainian Armed Forces to defend sovereignty and territorial integrity of the state. The primary task of the structure is to develop and implement efficient mechanisms of cooperation of security ministries of Ukraine and the USA.

Col. Gen. Stepan Poltorak spoke about the ongoing situation in the east of Ukraine.

“The situation in the region is tense. Unfortunately, the Russian-terrorist groups do not observe the Minsk agreements,” Minister of Defence of Ukraine stressed and added this fact threatens Ukraine and the whole world.

Col. Gen. Stepan Poltorak thanked Maj. Gen. Randy A. Kee for the U.S. political and material support for Ukraine.

Maj. Gen. Randy A. Kee stressed, in the framework of the necessity to increase the level of combat training of the Ukrainian troops according to the NATO standards, the Yavoriv International Peacekeeping and Security Centre hosts the Fearless Guardian 2015 drills of the servicemen of the National Guard of Ukraine, Armed Forces of Ukraine and U.S. servicemen.