Umerov to meet Austin at Pentagon on July 2

Ukrainian Defense Minister Rustem Umerov will meet with U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin on July 2 at the Pentagon, U.S. Department of Defense Deputy Spokesperson Sabrina Singh announced at a press briefing on Monday.

“This visit underscores the United States’ continued commitment to supporting Ukraine’s sovereignty and security,” Singh said.

The discussions will focus on bilateral defense cooperation and regional security, aimed at strengthening the defense partnership between the two nations.

Fifteen House Democrats have called on the U.S. Defense Department to expand the scope and speed of training Ukrainian pilots on F-16 fighter jets, Politico reported July 1, citing a letter obtained.

The group of lawmakers, led by California Congressman Adam Schiff, is calling on the Pentagon to support Ukraine’s request and train 10 additional F-16 pilots this year, the outlet reported.

President Volodymyr Zelensky said U.S. aid helped give Ukraine “a chance of victory” in Russia’s full-scale war.

FT: Ukraine signs first major LNG supply deal with US company

Under the agreement, DTEK, Ukraine’s largest private energy company, will begin purchasing an unspecified amount of LNG from Venture Global later in 2024 and throughout 2026.