The United States and Ukraine recently concluded a dialogue on strategic trade control issues as well as the best practices to stem proliferation of weapons of mass destruction-related goods and technology. The U.S. Departments of State and Energy and the Ukrainian Ministries of Foreign Affairs and Economic Development, Trade, and Agriculture jointly organized the dialogue, held in Kyiv February 4-5, 2020.

The heads of each delegation affirmed both countries’ commitment to shared international security and nonproliferation goals and agreed to advance cooperation in strategic trade controls. Vice Prime Minister of Ukraine for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration Dmytro Kuleba and U.S. Embassy Kyiv Chargé d ’Affaires, a.i. Kristina Kvien opened the dialogue.

The U.S. delegation included Department of State Bureau of International Security and Nonproliferation Deputy Assistant Secretary Phillip Dolliff and Department of Energy National Nuclear Security Administration Deputy Administrator Brent K. Park. Representatives from the Departments of Commerce, Homeland Security, Justice and Defense also participated. Senior Ukrainian participants included representatives of Ukraine’s Parliament, Presidential Administration, and ministries responsible for implementing strategic trade controls.

Ukrainian leaders highlighted ongoing reforms to strengthen Ukraine’s implementation of national strategic trade controls consistent with international best practices and guidelines. Leaders from both countries underscored the importance of interagency collaboration and information sharing, and highlighted an array of tools, authorities, and resources to prevent transfers of weapons of mass destruction-related dual-use goods and technology to state and non-state actors of concern. The United States and Ukraine partnership on strategic trade control and nonproliferation issues spans more than 20 years, and the Dialogue continued and strengthened that fruitful cooperation.

LINK: https://www.state.gov/the-united-states-and-ukraine-hold-executive-dialogue-on-strategic-trade-controls/