KYIV. June 8 (Interfax) - U.S. President Joe Biden has assured Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in a telephone conversation that Ukraine's position will be taken into account when discussing strategic issues in NATO and at scheduled summit-level events, head of the Office of the Ukrainian President Andriy Yermak said.
"He assured that Ukraine's position will be taken into account when discussing strategic issues in NATO, as well as during scheduled top-level events. Volodymyr Zelensky stressed the importance of providing the Ukrainian state with a NATO Membership Action Plan," a statement posted on the Ukrainian presidential website reads.
Biden reaffirmed that the United States supports Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity and "noted Zelensky's leadership in implementing fundamental reforms aimed at realizing Ukrainian people's Euro-Atlantic aspirations," the statement said.
The leaders exchanged views on strategic cooperation between Ukraine and the U.S. ahead of the upcoming G7 and NATO summits, as well as Biden's scheduled meetings with EU leaders and the Russian president, it said.
Zelensky also briefed Biden on the situation in Donbas and along the Ukrainian border. "He emphasized that there was still a high concentration of Russian troops and heavy weapons in the temporarily occupied territories and near the Ukrainian border," the statement said.
Biden also supported Zelensky's Crimean Platform and assured him that the U.S. will be "represented at the summit of the initiative at a high political level," it said.
Moreover, Biden stressed that he opposes the implementation of the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline project. For his part, Zelensky drew Biden's attention "to the fact that Nord Stream 2 is not an economic project," the statement said.
The two presidents also exchanged opinions on Ukraine's progress in implementing key reforms, with Zelensky speaking about "the planned steps to reduce the influence of oligarchs on the life of the country."
Zelensky also thanked the U.S. for its decision to provide Ukraine with 900,000 doses of a Covid-19 vaccine. "It will save the lives of many Ukrainians. The United States has reaffirmed its commitment to a strategic partnership with Ukraine," he said.