WASHINGTON, Oct. 27 (Xinhua) -- U.S. Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel spoke by phone on Monday with Ukraine's Defense Minister Stepan Poltorak to discuss bilateral security issues, according to a spokesman of U.S. Defense Department.
In a statement summarizing the call, DOD Assistant Press Secretary Carl Woog said "Secretary Hagel discussed with Minister Poltorak the types of security assistance that the United States is providing to address Ukrainian defense requirements."
Poltorak briefed Hagel on Ukraine's efforts to reform its military and expressed his thanks for U.S. support in this area, Woog added.
The U.S.-Ukraine Joint Commission recently held its inaugural meeting in Kiev, building upon earlier meetings between military officials from U.S. European Command and Ukraine, the spokesman noted, adding that both leaders agreed to continue to build on bilateral discussions in the near future.
The two also talked about the need for Russian authorities and the separatists to immediately implement all of their obligations under the Sept. 5 ceasefire agreement, said the spokesman.
Earlier Monday, U.S. President Barack Obama issued a statement on Ukraine's parliamentary elections.
"Despite a challenging security environment in certain regions, millions of Ukrainians turned out across the country to cast their ballots in an orderly and peaceful manner," he said. "I commend the government of Ukraine for the conduct of the campaign and election day vote, which international monitoring organizations assess to have been largely in line with international standards.
Obama called on Russia to ensure that its proxies in eastern Ukraine allow voters in the parts of Donetsk and Luhansk which are subject to the Special Status Law to choose their representatives in legitimate local elections on Dec. 7.
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