By KYIV. Nov 29 (Interfax-Ukraine) – NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, following the first meeting of the Ukraine-NATO Council at the level of foreign ministers, said that the allies provided Ukraine with recommendations on priority reforms.
“We also discussed Ukraine’s path to membership. Allies agree that Ukraine will become a member of NATO. We have now provided recommendations on Ukraine’s priority reforms. Including the fight against corruption, strengthening the rule of law, and supporting human rights and minority rights. Ukraine is closer to NATO than ever before,” Stoltenberg said.
The Secretary General said NATO will continue to support them on the path to membership. And we will continue to support Ukraine’s fight for freedom.
“We are now transforming NATO’s comprehensive assistance package into a multi-year programme of assistance. Helping Ukraine to transition from Soviet-era to NATO equipment and standards. And make their forces fully interoperable with ours,” he said.
According to the statement of the NATO-Ukraine Council at the level of foreign ministers published on the Alliance website following the results of the first meeting, the ministers summed up the implementation of the expanded package of political and practical support for Ukraine agreed upon at the Vilnius summit, and also approved the substructure of the Council and the “ambitious work programme for 2024.”
“In this context, NATO and Ukraine are already working and taking decisions together, as equals, on a broad range of issues, including interoperability, energy security, innovation, cyber defence, and resilience,” the statement said.
It is also indicated that the allies are developing a roadmap for Ukraine’s transition to full interoperability with NATO.
“We are also developing new projects on humanitarian demining, medical rehabilitation for wounded Ukrainian soldiers, and Ukraine’s defence industrial capacity on the basis of the strategic defence procurement review,” according to the statement.
It is also noted Ukraine has confirmed its commitment to continuing democratic and security reforms. “Allies have provided Ukraine with recommendations for priority reforms. The NATO-Ukraine Council welcomes Ukraine’s presentation of its adapted Annual National Programme for 2024 and looks forward to its implementation. NATO Foreign Ministers will regularly assess progress through the adapted Annual National Programme. The Alliance will support Ukraine in making these reforms on its path towards future membership in NATO,” according to the statement.
