Army General Mark Milley, the top military officer of the United States, met with his Ukrainian counterpart, General Valerii Zaluzhnyi, for the first time on Tuesday.
The meeting took place near the border of Ukraine and Poland, and emphasized the growing relationship between the two militaries.
As the war between Russia and Ukraine approaches its first anniversary, the meeting was considered to be critical.
The two leaders have spoken frequently in the past year about Ukraine’s proposed military needs and the state of the war, but had never met in person.
The international community is now increasing military assistance to Ukraine, which includes expanded training for Ukrainian troops by the US and provision of Patriot missile batteries, tanks, and increased air defense and other weapons systems by the U.S. and other countries in a coalition.
The meeting comes as news broke this week that 100 Ukrainian troops would be trained by the U.S. military in Oklahoma.
Ukrainian soldiers are to learn how to operate Patriot missile defense systems in the state.
“I can confirm that training for Ukrainian forces on the Patriot air defense system will begin as soon as next week at Fort Sill, Oklahoma,” said U.S. Air Force Brigadier General Pat Ryder.
“The training will prepare approximately 90 to 100 Ukrainian soldiers to operate, maintain and sustain the defensive system over a training course expected to last several months.”
