Ukraine and US sign memorandum on strengthening control over international assistance
Ukrainian Defense Minister Rustem Umerov, US Ambassador to Ukraine Bridget Brink and US inspectors (Photo: t.me/ministry_of_defense_ua)
Ukraine and the United States are strengthening cooperation in the control of the use of international assistance provided to the Armed Forces of Ukraine. Today, on January 31, the countries signed a Memorandum of Understanding, according to the press service of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine.
The Minister of Defense of Ukraine, Rustem Umerov, met with the U.S. Department of Defense Inspector General Robert Storch in Kyiv.
During the meeting, Umerov informed the American side about the institutional transformations taking place in the Ukrainian Ministry of Defense. This includes introducing an effective surveillance system, risk management, compliance, anti-corruption measures in procurement, and tools for democratic control in the defense sector.
"By the end of April, we will have 100% confidence that all supervisory mechanisms will be implemented, and the system will work," the minister emphasized.
As part of the meeting, the Main Inspection of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine and the Office of the U.S. Department of Defense Inspector General signed a Memorandum of Understanding. The document's purpose is to enhance cooperation in the control of the use of international assistance.
Among other things, the Memorandum provides for:
- Exchange relevant information to identify, confirm, and prevent fraud or corruption affecting or related to security assistance provided by the United States to Ukraine.
- Conducting joint activities to identify, confirm, and prevent fraud and corruption.
- Establishing a mechanism for mutual transmission of requests related to investigations and actions within the scope of the parties' powers and jurisdiction.
- Conducting periodic meetings to determine priority areas of cooperation to achieve common goals.
American inspectors in Kyiv
On January 29, inspectors general from the U.S. Department of Defense, the Department of State, and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) arrived in Kyiv. They came to check the American assistance provided to Ukraine.
