President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky and U.S. President Joe Biden discussed in detail the construction of the Nord Stream 2 project from Russia to Germany, Ukraine’s integration into NATO, the situation in Donbas and the implementation of reforms in Ukraine, adviser to the President’s Office head Mykhailo Podoliak has said.
“The conversation was very specific, substantive and covered key topics for our bilateral relations. The risks of the Nord Stream 2 construction for European security, the fastest and most effective Ukraine’s integration into NATO, the real situation in Donbas without any admixture of Russian propaganda, the obvious implementation of reforms in Ukraine and, in particular, the process of de-oligarchization,” Podoliak told Interfax-Ukraine.
According to him, “both the President of the United States and the President of Ukraine assess the existing risks for the European region security pretty much the same.”
Podoliak also said that “President Biden invited President Zelensky to visit Washington in July upon Biden’s return from a series of summits to be held in June.” “This is a G7 meeting, a NATO summit, a bilateral summit between the United States and Russia,” he said.
“After all these events, it will be quite logical to once again coordinate the policies of our states, and once again conduct and synchronize our partner positions,” the adviser to the President’s Office head said.
Ukraine, the European Commission and the Russian Federation held technical consultations in Brussels on Tuesday to prepare for the next round of trilateral talks on gas transit after January 1, 2020.
NJSC Naftogaz Ukrainy said in a press release that during the consultations the parties discussed Ukraine’s progress in the implementation of the norms of the European legislation and the creation of independent gas transmission system operator.
In addition, the signing of an interconnection agreement between the operators of the gas transmission systems of Ukraine and the Russian Federation on standard European conditions was discussed, as well as the methodology of tariff formation for gas transportation, and other issues.
The next round of trilateral gas transit negotiations is expected to take place on October 28.
