U.S. and Ukraine agree to strategic energy dialogue

The United States and Ukraine launched a new initiative called the U.S.-Ukraine Strategic Energy Dialogue, which will facilitate closer cooperation between the two countries in both the government and private sector.

The United States and Ukraine have already implemented a number of energy projects and initiatives relating to nuclear energy, natural gas and coal. U.S. Secretary of Energy Rick Perry told Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko at meetings last week that the United States looks forward to seeing this energy partnership continue to grow and benefit both nations’ economies.

In meetings with Ukrainian leaders – including the president, the prime minister, and other top officials – Perry discussed the importance of Ukraine taking action on matters such as Production Sharing Agreement, data sharing, regulatory predictability, and legal transparency as necessary steps for further U.S. investment.

“The citizens of Europe, the citizens of Ukraine in particular, should never be held hostage by a single source of energy. And the greatest way to send that message is to partner with individuals that you know you can count on, and the President wanted me to come today and tell you that you can count on the United States,” Perry said last week while meeting with Ukrainian officials.

Perry added that the U.S. government as well as the private sector is ready to partner with Ukraine to increase its energy security.