On Wednesday, June 15, Ukrainian Prime Minister Volodymyr Groysman met with U.S. House Speaker Paul Ryan in the framework of his visit to the United States. The parties focused on the discussion of such issues as Government’s plans to carry out reforms in Ukraine, combating corruption and the situation in Donbas.

Volodymyr Groysman underlined the willingness of the Government of Ukraine to implement drastic changes and outlined the main objectives of the reform agenda. According to him, one of the main directions of the Government is to strengthen the struggle against corruption. "Corruption deprives our country of the future," he stressed.

Thus, the Government is making efforts to ensure the start of functioning of the National Agency for Prevention of Corruption. It will soon be enacted electronic declaration of civil servants. "It will enable every official to be completely transparent and public," he pointed out.

Moreover, the Government adopted a range of decisions aimed at curbing corruption in various areas, including the introduction of the single market-based gas price, the beginning of the public privatization of state-owned enterprises and the civil service reform, which also help to overcome institutional weaknesses.

The Prime Minister added that macroeconomic stability and the continuation of cooperation between Ukraine and the International Monetary Fund are amidst the Government’s priorities.

Volodymyr Groysman recalled that the Ukrainian Parliament adopted recently amendments to the Constitution in the judicial sector, which would launch judicial reform in Ukraine and reboot the judicial system.

The Prime Minister informed Congressmen about the situation in Donbas. Volodymyr Groysman emphasized Ukraine was committed to the implementation of the Minsk agreements and urged not to forget the occupation of Crimea that "turned into a military base of Russia." The sides also discussed the issue of maintaining sanctions against Russia.

Volodymyr Groysman praised the training level of the Ukrainian Armed Forces by American instructors, and stressed the possibility of its continuation. The Prime Minister also noted that Ukraine needs effective defensive weapons. "Education, training, weapons, modernization - that is what Ukrainian army needs today," he pointed out.

The Prime Minister expressed his condolences for the loss of American citizens in the Orlando terrorist attack.

Volodymyr Groysman noted that this is his first international visit as Prime Minister of Ukraine and thanked the U.S. Congress and personally Speaker Paul Ryan for the support to Ukraine, which is especially important in the context of the Russian military aggression.