The event featured addresses by the U.S. Secretary of Defense Ashton Carter and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Martin Dempsey.

Upon the conclusion of the official ceremony, Ambassador Chaly conducted a meeting with the Director of Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency Michael Linnington, who thanked Valeriy Chaly for his participation in this important event. On his part, Ambassador Chaly stressed the importance of release of all Ukrainian political prisoners, detained by Russia, particularly Nadiya Savchenko, Oleg Sentsov, Oleksandr Kolchenko. The sides agreed to uphold dialogue on the issues of political and military cooperation.