During a working visit to the United States, Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine Andriy Yermak met with National Security Advisor to the President of the United States Jake Sullivan, Secretary of the National Security Council and National Security Advisor to the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom Timothy Barrow, Foreign Policy Advisor to the Chancellor of Germany Jens Plötner and Foreign Policy Advisor to the President of France Emmanuel Bonne.
The Ukrainian side was also represented by Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Ukraine to the United States Oksana Markarova and Advisor to the Head of the Presidential Office Dariia Zarivna.
Greeting the interlocutors, Andriy Yermak recalled their meeting in the same format, which took place almost two years ago, before Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine. At the time, it was not certain that they would be able to gather in this format again.
"You asked me back then what Ukraine would do if Russia attacked, and I answered: 'We will fight'. And we are fighting. For two years now, Ukraine has been resisting the aggressor. Against this backdrop, we are meeting in Washington to discuss further steps to strengthen Ukraine and provide it with security guarantees. Ukraine lives, fights and believes in its victory," the Head of the Presidential Office said.
He expressed profound gratitude to the leaders of the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany and France for their continued support of our country in repelling the full-scale armed aggression of the Russian Federation and for their active position on restoring a just and lasting peace in Ukraine and security in Europe.
Andriy Yermak also thanked his interlocutors for participating in meetings of national security and political advisors in Malta, Jeddah and Copenhagen.
The parties discussed the situation on the battlefield. According to the Head of the President's Office, the Ukrainian army has already regained about 50% of the previously occupied territories, but today the number of Russian troops in Ukraine is three times higher than at the beginning of the aggression, so our country needs to maintain international support.
The meeting also focused on the protection of the "grain corridor" in the Black Sea. Despite numerous Russian air attacks on Ukraine's port infrastructure, the corridor continues functioning due to cooperation with Ukraine's partners, primarily from the Black Sea region.
"Dozens of ships have already used this route, which has helped reduce threats to global food security. However, we need additional air defense systems to protect and ensure the operation of the grain corridor," he emphasized.
The interlocutors also continued the dialogue on the conclusion of bilateral agreements on security guarantees in the framework of the Joint Declaration of Support for Ukraine adopted by the G7 countries in Vilnius. It was noted that the work being done in this context will facilitate the transition of our country's defense forces to NATO standards and Western weapons.
Advisors to the leaders of the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany and France assured that they would support Ukraine as long as necessary to achieve a just peace.
