U.S. Embassy appoints new adviser to Ukraine’s Ministry of Defense
Ukrainian Defense Minister, Stepan Poltorak, met with the U.S., Ambassador to Ukraine Marie Yovanovitch. The head of the Ministry of Defense explained the Ukrainian government’s position regarding the imposition of the martial law, reports the press service of the Ministry.
“The imposition of the martial law is a necessary preventive measure in case Russia conducts a full-scale land military operation against Ukraine,” said the minister, adding that army should check its readiness to respond to any developments.
Poltorak explained to the head of the U.S. embassy that under the martial law conditions, Ukraine is taking measures to increase the level of the Ukrainian Armed Forces readiness to repel external aggression. This includes ensuring the preparation of all country’s ministries and departments for any possible development of events.
"Moreover, Ukraine is working on opening a joint center for coordinating the Ministry of Defense and the General Staff actions," said the minister.
During the meeting, Yovanovitch has introduced the U.S. strategic adviser from the United States, Keith Dayton, who will begin work at the Defense Ministry and the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. He is also the director of the George C. Marshall European Center for Security Studies.
According to the counselor, he is "familiar with Ukraine's culture and the challenges it faces" in achieving NATO principles and standards. “I will be very committed to this issue, and I am looking to find the Ukrainian solution to implement these norms,” he stressed.
On the evening of November 26, during an emergency meeting, the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine introduced the martial law in ten border regions of Ukraine for a period of thirty days.