On January 19 the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Andriy Melnyk held an online meeting with the U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs Karen Donfried.

Andriy Melnyk expressed his gratitude to the American party for the unprecedented financial assistance provided to Ukraine and the advanced weapons that are effectively used by the Armed Forces of Ukraine to repel armed aggression from the Russian Federation. He noted the particularly important significance of expanding the supply of heavy military equipment to counter escalation by the Russian aggressor on the battlefield and prevent casualties among the civilian population. In addition, the Deputy Minister expressed gratitude for the assistance in restoring the damaged and destroyed energy infrastructure of Ukraine.

The two interlocutors positively noted the historical significance for bilateral relations of the recent visit of President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to Washington, during which he held a fruitful meeting with US President Joseph Biden and delivered an address at the joint session of the U.S. Congress.

The meeting participants discussed the urgent issues of bilateral relations, ways to intensify the political dialogue, in particular in the medium and long - term prospective. They emphasized the importance of implementing the provisions of the U.S.-Ukraine Charter on Strategic Partnership, as well as the effective use of the Strategic Partnership Commission format for comprehensive development of relations between Ukraine and the USA. The efforts will focus on activity of the relevant working groups in the areas of security and countering Russian aggression, democracy and rule of law and economic transformation.

The Deputy Head of the Foreign Ministry paid special attention to the Peace Formula proposed by President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy. In the context of approaching a full year of the Russian Federation's large-scale invasion of Ukraine, the two interlocutors agreed to coordinate efforts to carry out activities aimed at drawing attention of the international community to the grave consequences of the Russian Federation's aggressive and unprovoked war against Ukraine. 

Andriy Melnyk expressed gratitude for Washington’s support of all important pro-Ukrainian resolutions within the framework of the UN. 

The diplomats also exchanged with views on the prospects of regional cooperation, in particular in Latin America and the Caribbean.