The United States became the first country to start negotiating a bilateral agreement with Ukraine on security guarantees, Ukraine’s presidential office said. The U.S. State Department confirmed that American and Ukrainian officials met Thursday to begin talks on long-term security commitments, Ednews reports citing The Washington Post.
"Our bilateral security commitments will focus on ensuring Ukraine has a sustainable force capable of defending Ukraine now and deterring Russian aggression in the future, supporting and improving efficiency and transparency across Ukraine’s defense institutions and industry, and bolstering the reform agenda that will support the good governance necessary to advance towards its Euro-Atlantic aspirations," The U.S. State Department statement read.
Saudi Arabia is set to host talks this weekend at which officials from around the world will discuss key principles to underpin a blueprint for peace in Ukraine. Russia will not be represented at the event.
Washington and Kyiv’s talks on security guarantees could create “a successful model for other partners,” the head of Ukraine’s presidential office, Andriy Yermak, said in a statement. “It is symbolic that the United States of America — our largest strategic partner — became the first country with which Ukraine starts this process.” He added that the talks could reinforce Ukraine’s progress toward membership in groups such as the European Union and NATO. The U.S. State Department said in a statement that the discussion fell under the framework of the G-7 Joint Declaration of Support to Ukraine.