Denys Shmyhal met with Keith Kellogg to discuss Ukraine’s defense priorities and robust security guarantees

Minister of Defence of Ukraine Denys Shmyhal met in Kyiv with the U.S. Special Presidential Envoy for Ukraine, General Keith Kellogg.

The Minister of Defence thanked General Kellogg for his visit during these important days for Ukraine. Denys Shmyhal also emphasized the United States’ very strong support, which contributes to saving lives and moving closer to a just peace.

“Ukraine expresses strong appreciation for the Prioritized Ukraine Requirements List (PURL) initiative. It has created new opportunities for NATO countries to rapidly supply our Defence Forces with urgently needed U.S. weapons and technologies,” the Minister of Defence emphasized.

During the meeting, Lieutenant General Andrii Hnatov, Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, and Lieutenant General Kyrylo Budanov, Chief of the Defense Intelligence of Ukraine, provided the U.S. delegation with a detailed analysis of the enemy’s plans and the situation on the front lines. 

“Together with our partners, we must intensify pressure on the aggressor to compel it toward a just, lasting, and sustainable peace,” added Ukraine’s Minister of Defence.

He briefed the delegation on Ukraine’s defense priorities. In particular, a key priority is ramping up the production of ammunition and drones to halt the enemy’s offensive. Joint projects in this area enable more efficient provision of weapons to Ukrainian warriors.

Furthermore, the parties addressed the need to establish robust security guarantees aimed at preventing future aggression against Ukraine. Efforts to develop these guarantees are conducted in close collaboration with partners.

"We also discussed preparations for the agreement on the production and sale of drones (the ‘Drone Deal’) to be signed by the Presidents of Ukraine and the United States. During the meeting, the relevant documents were handed over to the U.S. side,” said Denys Shmyhal.