A meeting took place in Washington between Ukraine’s Deputy Defense Minister for European Integration, Oleksandr Balanutsa, and the Head of the Administration of the State Transport Special Service (STSS), Brigadier General Oleksandr Yakovets, with a delegation from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers led by Brigadier General John Lloyd, Commander of the North Atlantic Division. 

During the meeting, the parties discussed directions for further strategic partnership between the STSS and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. The focus was on challenges in constructing fortifications, demining, and protecting critical infrastructure. 

«The experience of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers will help transform the State Special Transport Service. Implementing the practices and organizational models of the American engineers will enhance the efficiency of the SSTS's operations. We are ready to utilize our partners' experience for the rapid development of our services», – said Oleksandr Balanutsa. 

The parties also synchronized on the status of ongoing projects supported by American colleagues and outlined plans for their further development. 

«The partnership between our two organizations is mutually beneficial for both countries, and we look forward to continuing the dialogue. We hope to meet again soon in person to more precisely define our long-term goals and vision», – said Brigadier General John Lloyd, Commander of the North Atlantic Division of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. 

Training was a separate topic – organizing the training and professional development of Ukrainian specialists in design, construction, and control. Specific agreements were also reached on this matter. 

«The centuries-old practice of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in tasks such as demining, construction, and reconstruction of infrastructure facilities, especially special-purpose ones, will enable us to quickly adapt to the challenges of today caused by Russia's full-scale invasion and gain capabilities for the implementation of our country's recovery plans», – summarized the head of the SSTS Administration, Brigadier General Oleksandr Yakovets. 

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is known for its strategic construction and reconstruction projects, including post-war reconstruction of Europe (Marshall Plan), reconstruction of Iraq, post-war reconstruction of Bosnia and Herzegovina, as well as numerous infrastructure projects in South Korea.