Zelensky meets top US officials, signs memorandums on energy, defense

President Volodymyr Zelensky, accompanied by an extensive government delegation, had an eventful day in Washington, D.C., on Aug. 31.

Zelensky held face-to-face meetings with Secretary of Energy Jennifer Granholm, Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin and NASA Administrator Bill Nelson.

Zelensky is also expected to meet with World Bank President David Malpass and Secretary of State Antony Blinken in the evening of Aug. 31.

During the meetings, Zelensky oversaw the signing of several intergovernmental agreements concerning energy, economy and defense.

It was the first day of Zelensky’s three-day working visit to the U.S. After two days in Washington, D.C., the Ukrainian delegation will fly to California to meet with tech executives on Sept. 2.

According to Zelensky, Defense Minister Andriy Taran has signed a framework agreement with Austin that will set the basis for joint Ukraine-U.S. military projects in the future.

Austin has expressed his support for Ukraine’s desire to join NATO and promised further cooperation in cybersecurity, naval defense, and intelligence.

According to Associated Press, the U.S. has also pledged up to $60 million in military assistance for Ukraine. The new assistance package will include more Javelin anti-tank missiles.

The aid was provided because of a “major increase in Russian military activity along the border.”

“Russia’s buildup along the Ukrainian border has highlighted capability shortfalls in the Ukrainian military’s ability to defend against a Russian incursion,” the White House said in a notification to Congress, according to the Associated Press.

Ukraine already has received $250 million in military aid from the U.S. in 2021.

Besides defense, Zelensky oversaw the signing of a memorandum between state-owned Energoatom nuclear power monopolist and the U.S.-based Westinghouse Electric to construct a nuclear reactor for the Khmelnytskyi Nuclear Power Plant in Ukraine.

Zelensky said that a total of five nuclear reactors are to be built in Ukraine by the company in the future.

Khmelnytskyi Nuclear Power Plant currently has two reactors having a capacity of 1,000 megawatts each. Two more have been commissioned.

“The implementation of the memorandum will provide an opportunity to attract investment for the construction of reactors worth about $25 billion,” the president’s office said in a statement.

Zelensky also raised the question of Nord Stream 2 during his face-to-face meeting with Granholm.

“Russian gas is the most polluted in the world due to significant methane emissions during production and transportation, as well as corruption, blackmail and manipulation,” said Zelensky.

Granholm and Ukraine’s Energy Minister Herman Halushchenko signed several memorandums, among them a document set to improve Ukraine’s corporate governance in the energy sector by introducing advisory boards with foreign experts to Ukraine’s state-owned companies.

Later the same day, Zelensky met with Nelson. “Ukraine must become a space power again,” said Zelensky and invited Nelson to Kyiv.

In December, Ukraine is set to launch its first satellite in 10 years.

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