You're reading: Biden says US considering extending support to Ukraine in various areas

Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko has had a telephone conversation with U.S. Vice President Joseph Biden, during which they discussed the situation in Donbas and the progress of the international inquiry into the circumstances of the crash of the Malaysia Airlines MH17 flight.

Poroshenko told Biden that international experts accompanied by members of the OSCE mission reached the MH17 crash site and had been working there for two days now.

He noted that the access and the safe operation of the experts were made possible through a unilateral ceasefire by Ukraine within a radius of 20 kilometers from the crash site and a relevant agreement with the rebels during the last meeting of the tripartite contact group in Minsk.

“The settlement format, which we have established at the site of the inquiry, namely the bilateral ceasefire, the OSCE monitoring with the use of appropriate technologies, including air drones, the negotiations of the trilateral contact group, the start of liberation of the hostages, can later become a model for the whole of the hostilities zone, and enable the full implementation of the peace plan,” Poroshenko said.

For his part, Biden appreciated Poroshenko’s contribution and welcomed the consolidation of the Ukrainian parliaments and government, which helped to maintain political stability in Ukraine.

He also expressed the U.S. support of Ukraine’s position in the IMF, which is considering disbursement of the second tranche under the Stand-By Arrangement. In addition, the U.S. vice president said that a special team for expanding the direct economic support is currently working in Ukraine. Overall, apart from the financial and economic assistance, the U.S. is considering the possibility of expanding its support for Ukraine in other fields.

Poroshenko and Biden agreed to maintain direct contact which will vary in intensity depending on the further developments in Ukraine, the presidential press service said.