"Cooperation between Ukraine and the United States has significant untapped potential," Dmytro Razumkov
17 March 2021, 12:26
"Ukraine appreciates the bipartisan support of the US Congress. We are grateful for the support of legislative initiatives aimed at strengthening assistance to Ukraine, especially in the field of security and defense," said the Chairperson of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine.
Dmytro Razumkov thanked Robert Portman for his significant personal contribution to the formation of a strong parliamentary foundation for the Ukrainian-American strategic partnership, further development of mutually beneficial cooperation.
During the meeting, he assured that Ukraine has decided on its geopolitical direction - European and Euro-Atlantic integration - and stressed that he was grateful for the US support in this matter.
The Speaker of the Parliament expressed hope that the consequences of the pandemic would soon be overcome and that cooperation between Ukraine and the United States would be intensified, in particular, between inter-parliamentary relation groups and Committees on foreign affairs .
The parties also discussed cooperation in the energy sector, in particular, countering the construction of the Nord Stream-2.
Dmytro Razumkov called the issue of energy security one of the important elements of Ukraine's national security and thanked the United States for the sanctions policy against Nord Stream-2.
"Ukraine has repeatedly felt that this economic project is turning into an element of pressure, an element of political rather than economic influence. And very often it is used as a mechanism of blackmail. Therefore, I am convinced that we must unite our efforts in blocking the further progress of this process," the Chairperson of the Verkhovna Rada said.
The Speaker of the Parliament expressed hope that the United States would continue to provide sanctions against the Nord Stream 2 project, which would make it impossible to complete, and stressed the need to completely block the possibility of its completion and commissioning.
Dmytro Razumkov also expressed gratitude for the consistent US sanctions policy in response to Russia's ongoing aggression against Ukraine in Donbass and Crimea, and noted that achieving peace in Donbass remains the key priority for the Ukrainian Parliament and the Ukrainian people.
In turn, US Senator Robert Portman assured of US support for Ukraine's territorial integrity and sovereignty. He also expressed support for countering the construction and launch of the Nord Stream-2.
The parties stressed the importance of further close cooperation and the importance of Ukrainian-American relations.