F-16 and Air Defense: Ukrainian delegation discusses urgent defense needs of Ukraine in the US Congress

During their visit to the United States, Head of the Presidential Office Andriy Yermak, Speaker of the Verkhovna Rada Ruslan Stefanchuk, and Defense Minister Rustem Umerov met with the chairmen of the U.S. House of Representatives. The parties discussed Ukraine's urgent defense needs, including strengthening its air defense system and the transfer of F-16 aircraft. They also met with members of the Ukraine Caucus. UNN reports this with reference to the OP.

Details

Yermak, together with Stefanchuk and Umerov, met with three chairmen of the committees of the US House of Representatives - the Committee on Foreign Affairs, Michael McCaul, the Committee on Intelligence, Mike Turner, and the Committee on Armed Services, Mike Rogers.

During the meeting, representatives of the Ukrainian delegation emphasized the importance of the earliest possible consideration by the U.S. Congress of the budget request for additional spending to help Ukraine in the amount of more than $61 billion, which is vital to continue the liberation of our lands from Russian invaders.

"The parties also discussed Ukraine's urgent defense needs, in particular, strengthening air defense, increasing the supply of long-range missiles, artillery shells, tanks and armored vehicles, as well as the transfer of F-16 aircraft to Ukraine," the OP reported.

READ ALSO: U.S. may cut off arms supplies to Ukraine without Congressional approval - White House

The interlocutors reportedly touched upon the issue of Ukraine's Euro-Atlantic integration. Andriy Yermak emphasized that full membership in the Alliance is a strategic goal of our country, and this accession will also strengthen NATO.

"In addition, the head of the President's Office and the chairman of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine met with representatives of the Ukraine Caucus in the US House of Representatives," the OP informs.

Stefanchuk and Yermak said that despite the war, Ukraine is actively implementing reforms, including those envisaged by the IMF cooperation program. The Concept of Strengthening the Resilience of Democracy in Ukraine has already been developed. They also assured that one of the biggest priorities for President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's team is the fight against corruption, as evidenced by the numerous proceedings that have been opened recently.

Yermak separately noted the important work in the direction of confiscating Russian assets for the reconstruction of Ukraine, in particular, support for a bill that authorizes the US Department of Justice to confiscate valuable assets belonging to sanctioned Russian oligarchs and transfer them to our country more quickly.

"The parties also discussed deepening cooperation with Ukrainian caucuses, attracting new members to them, and expanding cooperation with other congressional caucuses," the statement said.

SEE ALSO: US aid to Ukraine: House Speaker Johnson gives White House an ultimatum