U.S. Assistant Secretary of State O'Brien visiting Kiev, meeting Ukrainian officials

MOSCOW. Aug 14 (Interfax) - United States Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs James O'Brien has arrived in Ukraine, U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine Bridget Brink said.

"His presence here in Kiev sends a strong message: U.S. support for Ukraine does not waiver," Ukrainian media quoted Brink as saying on her social account on Tuesday.

It was reported on Wednesday that O'Brien met with Andrei Yermak, head of the Ukrainian presidential office.

Yermak "thanked the U.S. President, Joseph Biden, and his team, both chambers and parties of Congress for helping Ukraine," media quoted the Ukrainian presidential office as saying.

Media also quoted Brink as saying that O'Brien met with Ukrainian civil society members.

"Excellent discussion between Assistant Secretary Jim O'Brien and members of Ukraine's vibrant civil society, reiterating U.S. support for Ukraine's independent anti-corruption institutions, needed to further Ukraine's Euro-Atlantic integration," Brink said.

A photo published by the U.S. ambassador shows, among others, Vitaly Shabunin, a Ukrainian civil society figure and head and co-founder of the Anti-Corruption Action Center, meeting with O'Brien.