The Ambassador briefed the Congressman on the implementation of reforms in Ukraine. Having spoken about numerous facts of violation by the Russian Federation of the Minsk agreements, Valeriy Chaly underscored the need for continued U.S. leadership in maintaining and increasing the international sanctions on Russia. In this context, he also highlighted the importance of increased U.S. support for Ukraine in the FY 2017 budget, both to help Ukraine implement its comprehensive reform agenda and to strengthen its defense capabilities.

The Ambassador of Ukraine drew attention of the Congressman to the plight, abduction and illegal detention in Russia of Nadiya Savchenko, stressing the need for international community to increase pressure on the Kremlin to ensure immediate release of the Ukrainian military pilot. Valeriy Chaly and Mike Conaway also discussed the situation in the Russia-occupied Crimea with particular emphasis on the continuing widespread human rights violations on the peninsula.

They also spoke about the problem of information warfare of the Kremlin, having agreed that there is a need for more robust and effective measures of the whole democratic community to counter it.   

The discussion also covered ways to deepen the practical cooperation between Ukraine and the U.S. Particular attention was rendered to prospects of bilateral partnership in the area of agriculture. Valeriy Chaly stressed the interest of Ukraine to develop further the cooperation with the United States in this field, at both national and regional levels. He also said that the U.S. experience of running agricultural business, particularly that of the state of Texas which the Congressmen represents in the U.S. House, could be of great value for Ukraine in the context of efforts to strengthen its agriculture.