Stoltenberg outlines types of NATO’s practical support to Ukraine

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg reaffirmed the Alliance's readiness to provide practical assistance to Ukraine in reforming its security and defence sectors and to support its political efforts to uphold the sovereignty and territorial integrity.

 “Throughout 2019, Allies remained firm in their support for Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. Following the unjustified use of military force by Russia against Ukrainian ships and naval personnel near the Sea of Azov and the Kerch Strait in November 2018, Allied Foreign Ministers decided in April 2019 to enhance NATO’s practical support to Ukraine,” reads NATO Secretary General’s annual report for 2019.

As noted, such practical support was provided including through cooperation with the Ukrainian Navy, sharing situational awareness and information, port visits and joint exercises.

“Ukraine’s new President Volodymyr Zelensky assumed office in May 2019 and reaffirmed his country’s strategic course of Euro-Atlantic integration. In October, the North Atlantic Council visited Odesa and Kyiv, and reiterated NATO’s commitment to providing continued practical assistance to Ukraine,” Stoltenberg states.

It is underscored that during the visit, NATO and Ukraine reviewed the Comprehensive Assistance Package for Ukraine designed to assist the country in reforming the security and defence sectors.

In 2019, Allied advisers working from the NATO Representation to Ukraine assisted the Ukrainian government and parliament with regard to the implementation of the framework law on National Security, setting out reforms in line with EuroAtlantic standards.

As noted, NATO’s practical support to Ukraine has also been provided through 16 different programmes under the Comprehensive Assistance Package, which includes Trust Funds with a budget of over EUR 40 million. In 2019, through the Trust Funds, medical rehabilitation equipment and secure communication devices were delivered to Ukraine, while the NATO-Ukraine Professional Development Programme continued to assist the country in enhancing the skills of its defence and security sector personnel.

In addition, Ukraine has been a beneficiary of projects carried out under NATO’s Science for Peace and Security Programme. In 2019, the NATO-Ukraine Platform for Countering Hybrid Warfare supported two expert seminars on military aspects of hybrid warfare, and a project focused on building resilience against disinformation.

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