Zelensky meets with representatives of the Ukrainian Caucus in U.S. Congress

KYIV. Sept 2 (Interfax-Ukraine) – During his working visit to the United States, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky discussed the security situation and Nord Stream 2 with members of the Ukrainian caucus (support group) in Congress, the presidential press service said.

"The interlocutors paid considerable attention to the security situation around Ukraine and in the region, the situation in Donbas and in the temporarily occupied Crimea. A separate topic for the dialogue was security issues related to the implementation of the Nord Stream 2 project by Russia," the press service said.

Zelensky said that sanctions pressure on Russia due to the implementation of the Nord Stream 2 project should continue.

"Only U.S. sanctions against Nord Stream 2 can stimulate Russia to agree and comply with them," Zelensky said.

In addition, the president informed the representatives of the Congress about the reforms being conducted in Ukraine, and called on the U.S. side to join the implementation of the Plan for the Transformation of the Ukrainian Economy presented in Washington.

"We are taking decisive steps to accelerate the real transformation of Ukraine and have a clear plan for implementing priorities, including anti-corruption policy and judicial reform," he said.

The president also expressed Ukraine’s interest in expanding cooperation with the United States in the educational sector.

Separately, he thanked the U.S. side for the treatment and rehabilitation of Ukrainian servicemen and said he was counting on the U.S. support in creating a network of treatment and rehabilitation centers for servicemen in Ukraine.

In addition, during the conversation, the sides discussed the events in Afghanistan and the steps that Ukraine and the United States are taking to evacuate their citizens from this country.

Zelensky thanked the U.S. delegation, which was represented at a high level, for participating in the celebration of the 30th anniversary of the restoration of Ukraine’s independence and the first summit of the Crimean Platform. He also noted the strong bipartisan and bicameral support in the U.S. Congress, which is an important foundation for strategic partnerships and is based on shared values ​​and long-term interests.

"We continue to uphold common democratic values ​​with the United States and are interested in taking the strategic partnership to a qualitatively new level," he said.

In turn, Co-chair of the Ukrainian Caucus Marcy Kaptur assured the President of support for the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Ukraine and all positive transformations in the state.