President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko and US Assistant Secretary of State Wess Mitchell have discussed the security situation in Donbas and the necessary first steps to be made in order to achieve progress in a peaceful settlement.
“The parties coordinated steps to counteract the construction of the Nord Stream 2,” the Ukrainian president’s press service reported.
The two officials also coordinated approaches to the implementation of an initiative on the deployment of the United Nations peacekeeping mission in Donbas, including the uncontrolled section of the Ukrainian-Russian state border.
“The parties underlined the responsibility of Russia for the full implementation of the Minsk agreements and the necessity of continuing sanctions against Russia until full restoration of Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, including Crimea,” the report reads.
The Ukrainian president called on the US to engage more actively in the release of Ukrainian political prisoners detained in Russian prisons and Ukrainian hostages.
Poroshenko thanked the US for their strong support in the fight against the Russian aggression. The importance of providing Ukraine with military assistance was emphasized and Washington’s decision on the supply of defensive weapons was noted.
The president also briefed the US diplomat of the progress made in implementing reforms in Ukraine, in particular in the areas of security and defense, and the fight against corruption.
The president of Ukraine and the US assistant secretary of state discussed the issues of developing bilateral political contacts and intensification of trade and economic cooperation.
