KIEV, Jan. 31 (Xinhua) -- Ukraine is ready to expand cooperation with the United States in the field of defense and security, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Friday during a joint press briefing with visiting U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo.
"Ukraine is ready to develop new forms of partnership with the United States in the field of security," Zelensky said during the briefing, according to the website of the Ukrainian president's press service.
Zelensky noted that the parties also discussed strengthening the Ukrainian Naval forces and the national air defense through the procurement of necessary weapons. The president emphasized that Ukraine is actively working with American partners to implement the successful reform of the defense industry.
"I am sure this will provide an impetus for mutually beneficial cooperation with top U.S. defense companies," noted Zelensky.
The Ukrainian leader also said that the comprehensive support that the U.S. Congress provides to Kiev through the assistance programs to Ukraine for 2020 amounts to almost 700 million U.S. dollars, about half of which is for defense and security.
