7 Dec 2018 17:52

Ukrainian defense minister sets out Navy's top priority needs to U.S

KYIV. Dec 7 (Interfax) - Ukraine's Defense Minister Stepan Poltorak and the United States' Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense Laura Cooper have agreed on joint measures to realize Ukraine's Euro-Atlantic aspirations.

The pair "discussed the list of top-priority needs of the Ukrainian Navy and agreed on joint steps to implement our country's Euro-Atlantic plans," Poltorak wrote on his Facebook page after the meeting in Kyiv on Friday.

He also told Cooper about the implementation of Ukraine's national security law, especially in the context of introducing civilian democratic oversight within the defense ministry, reforming the management system, the defense overview procedure, and key aspects of the defense reform, Poltorak wrote.

The two officials set priorities for bilateral cooperation in the near term and identified concrete measures to be implemented with aid from the U.S. and other sources.

After the meeting, Cooper said, "You can count on the United States to remain your strong partner in strengthening Ukraine's military to defend Ukrainian democracy," according to the embassy's Twitter account.