KIEV, June 28 (Xinhua) -- Ukrainian Parliament Speaker Andriy Parubiy said he hoped that U.S. support for Ukraine would continue after the planned meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin and U.S. President Donald Trump, local media reported Thursday.
"I believe that President Trump will never shift away from the key principles for the United States of America -- the protection of the sovereignty and the territorial integrity of our state," Parubiy was quoted as saying by the Ukrainian government-run Ukrinform news agency.
"The policy of the United States of America and the U.S. president is very important for Ukraine," Parubiy said.
Earlier in the day, Kremlin said that Trump and Putin will meet in Helsinki, the capital of Finland, on July 16.
On Wednesday, Trump said that he would probably meet Putin during his scheduled trip to Europe in July for talks focusing on Syria and Ukraine.
Relations between Kiev and Moscow have been deteriorating since early 2014 over their different stances on the developments in Crimea and eastern Ukraine.
Crimea was incorporated into Russia in March 2014 following a local referendum. Ukraine says the peninsula was annexed.
Kiev also accuses Moscow of aiding the armed groups in eastern Ukraine and sending troops to combat areas in Donbas. Russia has repeatedly rejected the accusation.
The United States has imposed sanctions on Russia over its alleged role in Ukrainian issues.
