We want to be sure that Ukraine has something and how to defend itself - US State Department adviser on providing military support to Kyiv

Любезна Катерина
·
17:00, 22 July
We want to be sure that Ukraine has something and how to defend itself - US State Department adviser on providing military support to Kyiv
Image source: Радіо Свобода

The United States is closely monitoring its military presence near Ukraine's borders. The US government seeks to develop military cooperation with the Ukrainian state and wants to be sure that the country has something to protect itself from Russia, which is transferring its armed forces and units of military equipment to the occupied Crimea.

Derek Scholle, an adviser to the US State Department, who was in Kyiv on July 21, said this in an interview with Radio Svoboda.

"We are very concerned about Russia's increase in forces at the border. We were particularly concerned a few months ago, when the number of troops was very high. There has been some withdrawal since then, but still a large number remain near the border. "We want to continue to develop military cooperation with Ukraine, either by providing support or assistance in exercises. We want to be sure that Ukraine has something and how to defend itself", - he said.

According to Scholle, the United States has made it clear to Moscow that such threats to Ukraine from Russia are unacceptable. For its part, the United States is trying to provide Kyiv with self-defense tools.

The adviser also stated that the American presence in the Black Sea will continue.