Ukraine’s cooperation with NATO in defense already deeper than for some of Allies - Reznikov

In the defense sector, Ukraine is already cooperating with NATO more deeply than some of the Alliance’s members.

That’s according to Ukrainian Defense Minister Oleksii Reznikov, Ukrinform reports referring to his Facebook posting.

"From the moment of my appointment to the post of Minister of Defense of Ukraine, I have repeatedly emphasized across various platforms the priority of my work – to implement integration into NATO de facto. So that at the moment when a political consensus of 30 countries is formed, the integration will take place de jure," Reznikov noted.

According to the minister, in the defense sector, Ukraine is already cooperating with the Alliance more deeply than some of its formal members, "who deserve the title of the main ally of Russia in NATO."

"We will continue to deepen actual integration in the field of defense. After all, this is mutually beneficial cooperation. Everyone has already appreciated the strength of the Ukrainian defense forces," Reznikov emphasized.

The minister believes it is worth remembering that NATO is not only about defense, it is about common values. Ensuring the stability of democratic institutions, restoring trust in justice, reliable protection of civil liberties and human rights are also important components of NATO integration.

"The historic decision to submit an application to join the Alliance is to continue integration. We will go through this path step by step. Today we have a large arsenal of Western weapons with which we are successfully beating Russian invaders. 11 months ago, when I asked to provide Ukraine with Stingers, in response I heard that it was impossible. Now everything has changed. The Ukrainian people, Ukrainian defenders, and authorities have made the impossible possible. Everything will work out for us," Reznikov stressed.

As Ukrinform reported earlier, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, Dmytro Kuleba, said that Ukraine's signal to the world is that Ukraine is a de facto member of NATO, so it remains to formalize this de jure as soon as possible, without a Membership Action Plan.