On February 17, 2020 in the NISS a meeting occurred with the Delegation of the United States of America, under the program of its visit to Ukraine. The US Delegation was represented by Mr. Damian Murphy, Professional Staff Member of Senate Foreign Relations Committee, and Mr. Christopher Mewett, Professional Staff Member of the Office of Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (Rhode Island).
The Delegation was supported by representatives of the Embassy of the United States of America in Ukraine: defense attaché Col. Quinn Wofford, head of the Office of Defense Cooperation Maj. Max Olivine, and U.S. Embassy political officer Natalie Oldani.
At this meeting the NISS was represented by the director of the Institute Oleksandr Lytvynenko and deputy director Oleh Sinaiko.
During the meeting the parties discussed the issues related to present sate and prospects of bilateral Ukrainian-American relations, i.a. in security sector. The participants of the meeting also analyzed areas for cooperation, as well as possibilities for supportive action of Ukraine by the United States for the sake of combating Russian aggression – such as promotion of strengthening the Ukrainian army and reforms of the Armed Forces of Ukraine in accordance with the NATO standards.
According to the results of the meeting, the parties identified the key matters of bilateral Ukrainian-American relations that should be taken into consideration for further review and elaboration.
In summing up the meeting, Mr. Lytvynenko pointed out: “Strong Ukraine is the best strategy for deterrence of Russia”.