First Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Vadym Prystaiko and Ambassador of Ukraine to the United States Valeriy Chaly held a meeting at the Embassy of Ukraine with a bipartisan group of Members of the U.S. Congress, Representatives Chris Stewart, Jim Bridenstine, Jeff Fortenberry, Keith Rothfus, and Peter Welch.

The meeting was focused on the priorities of the current Ukraine-U.S. agenda with particular attention on key tasks of cooperation with the United States Congress. The Members were briefed on the implementation of reforms in Ukraine, as well as the current situation in the territories of Donbas and Crimea temporarily occupied by Russia.

The Ukrainian side thanked the congressmen for supporting the legislation aimed at providing assistance to Ukraine in counteracting the Russian aggression that was passed by the U.S. House of Representatives in the previous years, as well as stressed the need for continued practical steps of the international community led by the United States to toughen the pressure on Russia, both political and in the form of economic and financial sanctions. Strong emphasis was placed on the importance to further enhance the U.S security assistance to Ukraine, including by provision of lethal weapons of a defensive nature, as well as the continued support for reforms in Ukraine. It was mentioned in this context that Ukraine remained hopeful that the volumes and areas of assistance to Ukraine in the U.S. budget would continue to increase in the coming years.

The U.S. Congressmen expressed their willingness to continue to keep the support for Ukraine among their priorities.