The partnership between the United States and Ukraine is entering a new, strategic level in the sphere of security and defense, and Ukraine's membership of NATO is the most optimal scenario for ensuring the country's security, Ukrainian Ambassador to the U.S. Valery Chaly has said.

"Ukraine, for the first time in all years of interaction with the U.S., is currently entering a level of strategic partnership, at least in the field of security and defense," he said at a press conference in Kyiv on Tuesday.

According to him, the provision of anti-tank modern weapons to Ukraine is a sign of a new level of cooperation between Washington and Kyiv in the security and defense sector.

"This is not only evidence of readiness to help our country. This is evidence of a completely different level of interaction. Here we have trust, which was not seen the past, it increased significantly [...] The confidence in the use of such weapons by Ukraine allows us to talk about new levels," Chaly said.

He also added that the issue concerns a U.S. assessment of the fight against corruption in this sphere.

"In the beginning, there were fears that such systems could fall into the hands of the enemy through corruption schemes. We have now demonstrated that we are monitoring the situation, and this opens up new opportunities, "the ambassador said.

Speaking about the optimal security scenario for Ukraine, Chaly noted: "The most realistic scenario for ensuring security today is Ukraine's membership in the system of collective security and defense where there is the U.S. NATO is now the most effective organization in the world on ensuring security."