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Immediate Release

Readout of Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel's Call With Ukraine's Minister of Defense General Colonel Stepan Poltorak

Assistant Press Secretary Carl Woog provided the following readout:

 

"Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel spoke today by phone with Ukraine's Minister of Defense General Colonel Stepan Poltorak, to congratulate him on his recent appointment as minister of defense. Secretary Hagel also congratulated the people of Ukraine for holding successful parliamentary elections yesterday.
 

"Secretary Hagel discussed with Minister Poltorak the types of security assistance that the United States is providing to address Ukrainian defense requirements.
 

"Minister Poltorak also discussed Ukraine's efforts to reform its military and thanked Secretary Hagel for U.S. support in this area. The U.S.-Ukraine Joint Commission recently held its inaugural meeting in Kyiv, building upon earlier meetings between military officials from U.S. European Command and Ukraine. Both leaders agreed to continue to build on bilateral discussions in the near future.
 

"Finally, Secretary Hagel and Minister Poltorak discussed the need for Russian authorities and the separatists to immediately implement all of their obligations under the Sept. 5 ceasefire agreement."