You're reading: Poroshenko, US senator discuss training assistance for Ukrainian army

Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko has discussed the situation in Donbas and U.S. assistance in restoring the defense capability of the Ukrainian armed forces with Co-Chair of U.S. Senate Committee for Armed Services Jack Reed.

“[The parties] discussed the ongoing developments in Donbas, stressing the extreme necessity of de-escalating the conflict based on the firm implementation by Russia of the Minsk agreements. The U.S. senator said that adherence to the ceasefire, which was set under the initiative of President Poroshenko, is the result of the active diplomacy of Berlin and Brussels,” reads a report posted on the president’s website on Sept. 3.

During the meeting, Poroshenko noted the key role of the U.S. Congress in stabilizing Ukraine’s economy and the ongoing reform process.

Poroshenko highlighted the efficiency of targeted sanctions against Russia, while Reed reassured the president that the U.S. will continue to apply the required efforts to make Russia implement the Minsk agreements.

“There is no alternative to Trans-Atlantic unity and solidarity with Ukraine, which is now demonstrated by the European Union and United States,” Poroshenko said.

Reed praised the adoption at first reading of Constitutional amendments on decentralization, which he described as a clear demonstration of how the state could make a difficult but extremely important choice and bear responsibility for it.

In addition, Poroshenko spoke about how much he appreciates the significance of U.S. aid in training the Ukrainian military.

Also, Reed said he was surprised by the level of training of Ukrainian army staff.