Igor Klymenko: The United States is Ukraine's largest and closest partner
This was emphasized by the Minister of Internal Affairs of Ukraine Igor Klymenko during a meeting with the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United States to Ukraine Bridget Brink and the Director of the Law Enforcement Department of the US Embassy in Ukraine Joshua Temblador.
At the beginning of the meeting, the Head of the Ministry of Internal Affairs Igor Klimenko thanked the partners for the comprehensive support of Ukraine during the full-scale invasion of the Russian Federation. He said that the Ministry of Interior is already actively working on the security component in the country after the victory and Western partners contribute to this.
“We have developed very trusting relations with the United States even before the start of the full-scale invasion of the Russian Federation. The Ministry of Internal Affairs actively cooperates with the Law Enforcement Division of the US Embassy in Ukraine INL and the Ambassador supports this communication. Ukraine has always felt strong support from INL and the entire US Government. And for us this is very important, because we daily fight back against the aggressor and develop a plan for a safe environment after the end of the war,” said the Minister of Internal Affairs Igor Klymenko.
The head of the Ministry of Internal Affairs stressed that it was thanks to the joint coordination of actions with the official Washington that Ukraine was able to reform the law enforcement system, and this helped the country to survive the first months of the war:
“Thanks to the Government of the United States of America and our efforts, we have already radically changed the system of the National Police of Ukraine. This allowed the country to survive in the first months of the war and now fulfill its duties,” Ihor Klymenko noted.
US Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to Ukraine Bridget Brink said that the United States highly values Ukraine as a partner and is ready to continue to support our country. It is about standing in the international arena and providing Ukraine with everything necessary to repel the aggressor.
“Speaking about the cooperation of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine and INL, we can state great efficiency. Thanks to the dialogue, we are very well aware of the problems and needs of Ukraine. We try to provide your side with everything you need,” said Bridget Brink.
Igor Klymenko informed the partners that the Ministry of Internal Affairs is already preparing 22 draft laws on the internal security of the country after the end of the war. In addition, the Head of the Ministry of Internal Affairs said that the department plans to improve the work of educational institutions that train future law enforcement officers in order to provide the post-war country with powerful force structures.
“We need to reformat the system of training future law enforcement officers. First of all - to start an audit of the personnel selection system and the training of our future police officers. We must focus on the system of training US law enforcement officers,” the head of the department said.
Separately, the parties discussed the issue of rehabilitation of Ukrainian servicemen returning from the combat zone — building medical centers, as well as providing veterans with jobs in the system of the Ministry of Internal Affairs.
“I like your strategic approach. It is correct that you already care about the security environment of the country after the end of the war. This is important for the future of Ukraine,” said Brigitte Brink, the US Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to Ukraine.
Department of Communications of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine
