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US military base in Ukraine not on the agenda - defence minister

Kiev pins great hopes on establishment of an international military brigade, Ukraine’s Defence Minister Stepan Poltorak said

KIEV, January 3. /TASS/. A U.S. military base in Ukraine is not on the country’s agenda as Ukraine’s laws do not provide for its possible deployment, Ukraine’s Defence Minister Stepan Poltorak said in an interview with the Ukrainian News agency published on Sunday.

"The issue is not on the agenda," Poltorak said. "Ukraine’s laws do not make it possible. We have close cooperation, enabling us to exchange skills and experience."

Kiev pins great hopes on establishment of an international military brigade, he said.

"We are pinning big hopes on the creation of a Ukrainian-Polish-Lithuanian brigade," he said. "Eighteen officers have joined the brigade’s command. We are planning to conduct practical exercises next year."

Poltorak is hopeful that joint war games of that brigade will bring Ukraine in line with NATO standards in a shorter period of time.

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