Ukrainian president, NATO secretary general meet in New York

A meeting between Zelensky and Stoltenberg took place in New York on Wednesday, September 22, the presidential press service reported.

"Volodymyr Zelensky asked Jens Stoltenberg to facilitate the release of almost 450 Ukrainians who are illegally in the temporarily uncontrolled territories and in Russia," the report said.

Zelensky thanked Stoltenberg for unwavering support for Ukraine, noting the importance of a NATO representative's participation in the Crimea Platform summit held in Kyiv in August.

He also stressed that over the past two years, Ukraine has almost completed the formation of a new integrated national security system, based entirely on the standards of NATO member states.

"Our course for NATO membership, the principles and standards of the Alliance are the basis of all governing documents in the sphere of national security and defense," he said.

Zelensky briefed Stoltenberg on the implementation of Annual National Programs under the auspices of the NATO-Ukraine Commission. He expressed hope that NATO member states would identify a comprehensive list of reforms, relevant criteria and "markers" for the country, the implementation of which will help move to the next stage of integration with the Alliance.

Ukraine's cooperation with NATO in the status of an Enhanced Opportunities Partner was also discussed at the meeting.

In the context of joint efforts with NATO to strengthen security in the Black Sea region, the president emphasized the importance of increasing NATO's naval presence in the Black Sea, as well as cooperation between the Black Sea states. Zelensky also expressed interest in increasing the number of joint exercises.

Zelensky took part in the opening of the 76th session of the UN General Assembly in New York on September 21.

Photo credit: President's Office