NATO notes unprecedented level of support for Ukraine

Head of the NATO Representation to Ukraine Alexander Vinnikov said this during a discussion at the Kyiv Security Forum "What to Expect of the 2018 NATO Summit?" in Kyiv on Tuesday, according to an Ukrinform correspondent.

"The summit will be another opportunity to reiterate NATO's steadfast and unwavering support for Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity and for your country's right to choose its own destiny. Allies will reconfirm their non-recognition of Russia's illegal and illegitimate annexation of Crimea, and they will once again condemn Russia's aggressive and destabilizing actions in the eastern part of Ukraine and call on Russia to cease its involvement in the conflict. But NATO support is not only political. It is also very practical. Since the beginning of Russia's aggression against Ukraine, this practical support has reached unprecedented levels," Vinnikov said.

He noted that a distinctive partnership between NATO and Ukraine remains very important to the alliance.

Vinnikov said that at the upcoming summit, NATO will reconfirm its commitment to continue supporting Ukraine's reforms and "strengthening Ukraine's capacity to provide for its own security."

"The framework for this support is a comprehensive assistance package, which was created at the NATO Summit in Warsaw two years ago. And through this package we have helped with capability development, through our trust funds, but also with planning and implementation of much needed deep security and defense sector reforms," he added.

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