Zelenskyy's emissaries meet several members of Biden administration while visiting US

Head of the Ukrainian presidential office Andrii Yermak, Verkhovna Rada Speaker Ruslan Stefanchuk, and Defense Minister Rustem Umerov met with United States Secretary of State Antony Blinken during their visit to the US, Ukrainian media have reported, citing the Ukrainian presidential press service.

Yermak informed Blinken of progress in negotiations on security guarantees for Ukraine on its path toward NATO membership, as stipulated by the Group of 7's joint declaration adopted in Vilnius, Interfax.com reports.

He said he hoped Ukraine and the US would soon begin substantive discussions on Washington's proposals concerning a bilateral agreement on security guarantees for Ukraine.

Yermak thanked Blinken for all the help the US has provided to Ukraine since the start of the crisis, which has reached about $45 billion in defense assistance and $22.9 billion in budget support.

The parties discussed the necessity of support for Ukraine's macro-financial stability, it said.

Umerov and Yermak also had a separate meeting with US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, Ukrainian media reported citing the Defense Ministry.

"The parties discussed strategic goals and a Ukrainian plan of operations for 2024," they said.

"NATO is a special priority [for Ukraine] for next year," Umerov said. "Our goal and objective is to bring our defense forces into line with the alliance's principles and standards," he said.