Ambassador Pyatt: Pentagon delegation headed to Kiev to discuss military assistance

KIEV, Ukraine, May 30 (UPI) -- During an interview with Ukrainian newspaper Dzerkalo Tyzhnia (Mirror Weekly) this week, U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine Geoffrey Pyatt discussed American assistance to Ukraine.

U.S. military assistance to Ukraine, he said, has tripled in the last three months. And a delegation from the Pentagon is scheduled to meet next week in Kiev with Ukrainian officials to discuss how the U.S. can best support Ukraine's defense sector in the months and years to come.

Pyatt emphasized in his interview that economic development and democratization are central to Ukraine's ability to defend itself. Toward that end, the U.S. is providing economic support and will -- in the meantime -- help modernize Ukraine's defense and security forces.