Ukraine to hold talks on security guarantees with U.S. this week - presidential office chief

MOSCOW. July 31 (Interfax) - Ukraine and the United States will begin negotiations on a bilateral security guarantees agreement in line with the Group of Seven's declaration on supporting Kiev this week, chief of the Ukrainian presidential office Andrei Yermak said.

"Security guarantees for Ukraine will be concrete and long-term obligations. These will be clearly stipulated formats and mechanisms of support," Ukrainian media quoted Yermak as saying.

"These guarantees will remain in effect until Ukraine becomes a NATO member," he said.

Over ten other countries have joined the G7 declaration, with whom Ukraine plans to conclude a system of bilateral treaties providing concrete security guarantees, Yermak said.

"We're working on bilateral agreements with each of these partners," Yermak said. "The construction of a system of international guarantee support will be a strong positive message to domestic businesses and international investors," he said.

Saudi Arabia will host the next meeting of national security advisors and political advisors to heads of state soon to address Ukraine's initiatives on restoring peace, he said.

"We arranged a first such meeting in partnership with our Danish partners. It took place in Copenhagen in June. The next meeting will take place soon. A Saudi city is to host it," Ukrainian media quoted Yermak as saying at a congress of local and regional government bodies in Ivano-Frankovsk.