On June 18, the Minister of Defence of Ukraine Andrii Taran held a videoconference with a group of high-level foreign strategic advisers of the Ministry of Defence of Ukraine and the Armed Forces of Ukraine (also known as DRAB — Defence Reform Advisory Board).

Senior representatives of the defence agencies of the partner states (USA, Great Britain, Canada, Germany, Poland and Lithuania) chaired by the Chief Strategic Advisor from the USA, Lt. Gen. (ret.) Keith W. Dayton, discussed with the Minister of Defence of Ukraine practical aspects of implementation of the defence reform, as well as current security situation.

The Minister of Defence of Ukraine informed the participants of the videoconference about the situation in the Joint Forces operation area and around the borders of Ukraine, as well as measures taken by the leadership of the state and the Ministry of Defence to counter Russian armed aggression and to ensure the peaceful settlement within the Normandy format.

The main attention during the conversation was paid to the reinforcement of the directions of providing advisory assistance to each strategic advisor and determining those responsible on the Ukrainian side at the level of Deputy Ministers.

As part of the discussion on the implementation of the country’s strategic course towards Ukraine’s full-fledged membership in the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, Andrii Taran thanked the strategic advisers for their comprehensive support of the defence reform, the successful implementation of which has become an important aspect to provide Ukraine with status of NATO’s Enhanced Opportunity partner, as well as the decision of the US Congress to approve $ 250 million defence assistance to Ukraine for FY 2020.

The communication took place in a constructive atmosphere. The participants agreed to hold the next videoconference in July and expressed hope for a possible return to work directly at the Ministry of Defence of Ukraine as soon as the epidemiological situation allows.