DoD News, Defense Media Activity
WASHINGTON, July 28, 2014 – Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel
spoke by phone today with Ukrainian Defense Minister Valeriy Heletey, Pentagon
Press Secretary Navy Rear Adm. John Kirby said.
In a statement summarizing the call, Kirby said Hagel
congratulated Heletey on his recent appointment and asked for his assessment of
developments in Ukraine.
“Minister Heletey conveyed that despite steady progress by
the Ukrainian military, the situation in eastern Ukraine continues to worsen,”
Kirby said. The minister attributed the increasing levels of violence,
including the downing of Malaysia Airlines Flight 17, to direct Russian support
for separatists, he added.
Heletey expressed his nation's interest in additional
security assistance from the United States, the press secretary said.
“Secretary Hagel assured him that the U.S. government will
continue to review all such requests within a broad interagency process,” he
added, beginning with discussions through the U.S. Embassy in the Ukrainian
capital of Kyiv.
The two defense leaders exchanged mutual thanks for the
level of defense cooperation between the United States and Ukraine, and pledged
to continue developing the bilateral relationship, Kirby said.
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