Strengthening of Ukraine's defense capabilities will force the aggressor to leave the territory and to return to its borders, thus will restore the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine, promote the restoration of respect for democratic values and international law. This was stated by Prime Minister of Ukraine Volodymyr Groysman during a meeting with the members of the House of Representatives of the U.S. Congress on Monday.

The Head of Government expressed immense gratitude to the people and the US leadership for the unwavering support of Ukraine in this difficult historical moment, inter alia for preserving sanctions against Russia.

In this context, Volodymyr Groysman informed interlocutors about constant shelling of the militants controlled by the Russian Federation in the east of the country. The official Kyiv is facing challenging times only in military but also in economic, energy and information aggressions. This is precisely why Ukraine urges to preserve and to increase the sanctions against Kremlin which can only be reviewed if the aggressor drops his plans and stops armed hostilities.

«We do not need not only sanctions, it is of critical importance to force Russia to leave our country. Today our soldiers protect not only the borders of the country, but democratic values and respect for the international law. We must force the aggressor out and return to its borders. The whole civilized world must be united. In this regard, it is crucial to ensure the national defence capability to be effective», stressed Volodymyr Groysman.

The Prime Minister briefed the US side on the Government’s endeavors towards transformations in Ukraine. Last year the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine managed to achieve macroeconomic stabilization, to restore economic growth and to shape a system of national anti-corruption legislation and he also added that the Government is committed to pursue structural reforms, and there is a number of drastic sectoral reforms on the table, inter alia a land, a pension, a public privatization as well as reforms in education and health sectors.