On March 11-15, 2024 Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Iryna Borovets paid a working visit to the United States of America.
Within the framework of the visit, the Deputy Minister took part in open debate of the UN Security Council, held a number of bilateral meetings, including with representatives of the US Department of State, as well as the Secretary General of the Organization of American States and representatives of the expert community.
During the meetings with James O'Brien and Chris Smith, the U.S. State Department's representatives for European and Eurasian Affairs, the parties discussed further development of bilateral relations, preparations for the inaugural Peace Formula Summit as well as the upcoming NATO Washington Summit.
Iryna Borovets expressed gratitude for the unwavering support of the U.S. for Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity. She emphasized the importance of further support to meet the priority needs of Ukrainian defenders, who are already acutely short of ammunition, air defense equipment and long-range weaponry. "We hope that shortly the Congress will reach a consensus on a new financial assistance package for Ukraine, which will not only cover the necessary budgetary expenditures, but also implement the Ukrainian strategy at the front," she noted.
The parties also discussed the issue of establishing joint Ukrainian American production of weapons and ammunition.
Iryna Borovets coordinated with Assistant Secretary of State Michelle Sison further steps to deepen cooperation within international organisations, in particular with a view to establishing a special international tribunal for the crime of aggression against Ukraine.
The Deputy Minister had a substantive exchange of views with U.S. State Department's Western Hemisphere Affairs Representative Brian Nichols on the implementation of the two countries' foreign policy in Latin America and the Caribbean. Iryna Borovets briefed her interlocutor on the new approaches of Ukraine's foreign policy towards Central and South America, in particular, with a view to resetting relations with the strategically important region, as envisaged by the Strategy for the Development of Relations between Ukraine and Latin America and the Caribbean, drafted by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine. In addition, the interlocutors discussed the expansion of the number of countries participating in the Peace Formula Summit to be held in Switzerland.
During the meeting with Under Secretary of State for Public Diplomacy Elizabeth Allen the parties discussed ways of joint interaction to counter Russian narratives in the United States through public diplomacy and strategic communications.
The Deputy Minister's talks with Secretary General of the Organization of American States Luis Almagro focused on the global agenda and the involvement of American states in the implementation of President Zelenskyy's Peace Formula. In her turn, Iryna Borovets expressed gratitude for the support of Ukraine's efforts to condemn Russia's full-scale armed aggression against Ukraine within the Organization.
The Deputy Minister also took part in an expert roundtable discussion at the Atlantic Council with representatives of leading analytical institutions and the U.S. Department of State, where she voiced our country's priorities in the context of international initiatives to support Ukraine.
During a meeting with Terry Harvey and Hana Hausnerova, Vice Presidents for Cultural Programs at the Meridian International Center for Cultural Diplomacy, the parties discussed new partnership projects in the field of cultural and public diplomacy.