U.S. defense secretary confirms support of Ukraine
U.S. Secretary of Defense Ashton Carter has confirmed his country's support of Ukraine in the face of the Russian aggression.
"Also in today's meeting of the NATO-Ukraine Commission, as well as my bilateral meeting with my Ukrainian counterpart, I reaffirmed the United States' commitment to standing with Ukraine and the Ukrainian people," Carter said at a press conference on Thursday at NATO headquarters, where he took part at the NATO-Ukraine Commission meeting at the level of defense ministers and held a bilateral meeting with his Ukrainian counterpart Stepan Poltorak.
He also thanked the European Union for making "the vitally important decision" earlier this week to extend the EU sanctions against Russia.
"Political and economic pressure is key to countering Russia's ongoing aggression in eastern Ukraine," he said.
In his words, America's support for Ukraine is ongoing and robust, totaling $238 million so far in security assistance. Right now, 300 U.S. paratroopers from the 173rd Airborne Brigade are in Yavoriv training the Ukrainian National Guard, Carter added.
