WASHINGTON (Sputnik) — US Secretary of Defense Ashton Carter and Ukrainian Minister of Defense Stepan Poltorak signed a bilateral partner concept that focuses on boosting Ukraine’s defense capabilities, the US Department of Defense announced in a release on Thursday.
"[The] document… provides a framework for the United States and Ukraine to enhance the defense capacity of Ukraine's forces, advance critical Ukrainian defense reforms, improve resource management processes and boost defense technology cooperation," the release stated.
"Gen. Abizaid will provide authoritative advice to Minister Poltorak and other senior Ukrainian officials as Ukraine aims to implement reforms designed to bring its armed forces in line with Western principles and standards," the release stated.
The two officials also discussed the crisis in eastern Ukraine and the Minsk Agreements to settle the conflict.
The meeting between Carter and Poltorak took place at the UN Peacekeeping Defense Ministerial in London.
