On December 7, Minister of Defense of Ukraine Stepan Poltorak met with U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Russia, Ukraine, Eurasia Laura Cooper.

Stepan Poltorak briefed the U.S. delegation on the situation that arose as a result of another act of open armed Russian aggression, which took place in the Kerch Strait.

The Minister of Defense placed a special emphasis on the state of implementation of the Law of Ukraine "On National Security of Ukraine", in particular, in the context of the introduction of civil democratic control in the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine, reforming the management system, conducting a defense review and key aspects of defense reform.

The sides also defined priorities for strengthening bilateral cooperation in the near future and specific measures to be implemented with the assistance of the United States and other international partners.

Apart from that, the parties discussed the list of priority needs of the Naval Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, and also agreed on joint actions to implement the Euro-Atlantic aspirations of our state.