President Viktor Yanukovych and U.S. President Barack Obama have reaffirmed strategic partnership between the two states and their intention to realize its full potential. To this end, they committed to build upon the United States-Ukraine Charter on Strategic Partnership and the Strategic Partnership Commission, UKRINFORM's own correspondent reported with reference to the press service of the White House.
The two leaders recognized their countries' interests and shared values mirrored in the Charter: devotion to democracy, economic freedom and prosperity, security and territorial integrity, energy security, the rule of law, development of cooperation in many spheres and strengthening people-to-people contacts.
"Barack Obama and Viktor Yanukovych discussed problems of recovery from the global economic crisis. The Head of the Ukrainian State stressed his commitment to addressing Ukraine's economic challenges through implementation of systemic reforms and resumption of Ukraine's cooperation with the IMF. President Obama supports that commitment," the joint statement reads adopted following a meeting of the presidents.
During the negotiations, the two leaders also recognized the potential for increased bilateral trade and investment and for strengthening engagement on economic, financial and investment-related cooperation.
The U.S. and Ukrainian presidents reaffirmed their shared vision of a world without nuclear weapons and pledged to work together to prevent proliferation and to realize the Nuclear Security Summit's goal of nuclear safety.
President Yanukovych offered his congratulations on the signing of the new START Treaty. In turn, President Obama recognized Ukraine's contribution to nuclear disarmament and reconfirmed that the security assurances recorded in the Budapest Memorandum of December 5, 1994, remain in effect.