Zelensky discusses with Pence plans for Trump meeting

Ukrainian President Zelensky discussed the conditions
of his first meeting with U.S. President Trump – planned for the UN General
Assembly next week – during a Sept. 18 telephone call with U.S. Vice President
Mike Pence, the eurointegration.com.ua news site said. The meeting will occur
between Sept. 23 and 26, said this earlier month William Taylor, Jr., the
acting U.S. ambassador to Ukraine. More details on the meeting are not
available, and it’s not clear whether Zelensky will visit Washington, as has
been urged by Valeriy Chaly, the current Ukrainian ambassador to the U.S.

During the call, Zelensky thanked Pence for his
personal role in helping to get approved USD 250 mln in military aid included
in the budget. Zelensky stressed the importance of U.S. military aid, which he
said he hopes will increase next year, and stressed the anti-corruption reforms
currently being implemented, according to the president.gov.ua website. The two
leaders also discussed developing cooperation in the energy sphere, expressing
support for its active expansion. Zelensky first spoke with Pence on Sept. 1 in
Warsaw during the commemoration of the start of World War Two.