Intensive cooperation: NATO allies may supply Ukraine with smart weapon - Poroshenko

05.09.201410:37

Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko on Thursday attended a meeting of the NATO-Ukraine Commission at the level of heads of state and government of the member countries and partners of NATO, as part of the alliance’s summit in Newport (Wales, Britain).

“I have never felt such a powerful support demonstrated in respect of Ukraine by the heads of state and government who represent NATO member states,” the presidential press service quoted him as saying.

He said that many allies had declared additional practical support for Ukraine to be provided on a bilateral basis, including commitments to contribute to newly established defense capacity building trust funds and what is especially important: ‘rehabilitation of wounded servicemen, bilateral military cooperation in the provision of lethal and non-lethal equipment.’

NATO member countries may supply precision guidance weapons to Ukraine on a bilateral basis, Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko said.

“Practically every state has affirmed the outcome of bilateral consultations on the assistance to Ukraine. First and foremost, this is the question of assistance in military-technical cooperation, both non-lethal and lethal weapons, including precision guidance arms,” he said after a sitting of the Ukraine-NATO Commission in Newport, Wales, on Thursday.

Agreement was also reached at the meeting to strengthen Ukraine’s intensive cooperation with NATO in defense and security sector through development and capacity building programs, focusing on reform of the Ukrainian Armed Forces and other security structures.

He said that the second important element of the new NATO-Ukraine cooperation strategic framework was Ukraine’s participation in the Partnership Interoperability Initiative.

“This will allow us to maintain a high level of interoperability between Ukrainian and NATO forces achieved though continuous participation of our national contingents in NATO-led missions and operations, joint military exercises, NATO Response Force,” he said.

In addition, he said, the last but not least element of the new framework is further deepening of NATO-Ukraine Distinctive Partnership.

In this context, Poroshenko noted that remaining committed to implementing wide-ranging EU-integration related reforms Ukraine would further pursue this goal through the Annual National Program of NATO-Ukraine cooperation, along with other existing tools and mechanisms.

“Such an approach will create necessary synergy between Ukraine’s European integration and Euro-Atlantic cooperation tracks,” he said.