Ukraine's military and political leadership holds videoconference with Austin, Milley and Sullivan

Andriy Yermak, the Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine, shared the information on Telegram. 

The meeting was held on behalf of President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy. According to Yermak, the conversation between the representatives of the countries was substantive and fundamental. 

"I, my deputy Roman Mashovets, together with the Commander-in-Chief of the Ukrainian Armed Forces Valerii Zaluzhnyi, the Commander of the Land Forces of the Ukrainian Armed Forces and the Khortytsia Joint Task Force Oleksandr Syrskyi, the Commander of the East Joint Task Force and the Tavria Joint Task Force Oleksandr Tarnavskyi participated in the meeting, Commander of the Air Force Mykola Oleshchuk, Defense Minister Oleksii Reznikov and First Deputy Minister Oleksandr Pavliuk, National Guard Commander Oleksandr Pivnenko, Chief of the Defence Intelligence Service Kyrylo Budanov and Head of the State Border Guard Service Serhiy Deineko," Yermak wrote.

In turn, the US was represented by National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan, US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin, and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Mark Milley.

Yermak noted that this was not the first meeting in an expanded format to discuss the defense sector. During the videoconference, Valerii Zaluzhnyi and the commanders of the operational and strategic military groups briefed the American side on the current situation at the front. They emphasized the offensive operations of Ukrainian defenders in important areas.

"During the conversation with our partners, we emphasized the key needs of the Defense Forces, as well as the need to strengthen the protection of Ukrainian cities and infrastructure from Russian air attacks. Representatives of the US side showed their great respect for the heroism of the Ukrainian people and assured that the US support for Ukraine will continue as long as necessary," Yermak added. 

• On August 8, media reported that the head of Ukraine’s Main Directorate of Intelligence, Kyrylo Budanov, visited Bulgaria. He met with Bulgarian Defense Minister Todor Tagarev and Director of the Military Intelligence Service General Venelin Venev.