Durbin in Ukraine to discuss Western support in the face of Russian aggression

Sen. Dick Durbin is in the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv on Tuesday to meet with top officials to discuss Western support in the face of Russian military aggression.

He met with the President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko, Prime minister and other officials and visited a training area where 300 U.S. Army personnel are working with members of the Ukrainian National Guard, his office said.

Durbin is to move on to Lithuania and Poland.

In a statement, the Illinois Democrat said:

"America's relationship with Ukraine has never been more important. Ukraine's leaders are focused on key reforms to modernize the economic, security, judicial, and energy sectors — all while fighting the illegal seizure of Ukrainian territory by Russian-backed separatists.

"We have discussed ongoing Russian violations of the Minsk II ceasefire agreement — including ongoing fighting in disputed areas. It's important that the international community holds President (Vladimir) Putin's regime to account and rejects these threatening Russian actions."