PROJECTING STABILITY
Ukraine’s Minister of Defence, General Stepan Poltorak, met with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg in Brussels on 7 June 2018 (PHOTO: NATO)
of Russia’s aggressive actions in Ukraine, NATO has adopted a dualtrack policy. This policy – which remains in place – is based on deterrence and defence, on the one hand, and maintenance of meaningful political dialogue on the other. Specifically, the Atlantic Alliance has suspended all forms of practical cooperation with Russia. At the same time, it has kept channels of political dialogue open, including through the NATO-Russia Council, which remains an important forum. NATO and Russia also maintain open military-to-military lines of communications. The dialogue between NATO and Russia contributes to more predictable relations and enhanced mutual security.
A new era of relations In the aftermath of the events of 2014, NATO-Ukrainian relations entered a new era. NATO Allies provide political support to Ukraine and its territorial integrity and sovereignty and do not recognise the illegal and illegitimate annexation of Crimea. NATO has also stepped up its practical support to Ukraine through various support
programmes to Ukrainian defence and security forces and institutions. At the Warsaw Summit in 2016, Allies and Ukraine endorsed the Comprehensive Assistance Package, which brings together all the various strands of NATO’s support to Ukraine. These include eight Trust funds, to which Allies have pledged up to €40 million in areas such as logistics, cyber defence, medical rehabilitation, countering improvised explosive devices and others.
New, larger entity In 2016, two NATO offices – the NATO Information and Documentation Centre and NATO Liaison office – merged into one bigger entity called the NATO Representation in Ukraine. This better reflects NATO’s increased role in Ukraine. Today, the Representation comprises over 50 personnel from NATO’s International Staff and International Military Staff, as well as advisors and programme managers from Allied countries and local staff. Existing initiatives, such as the Building Integrity programme, the Professional Development Programme, and programmes managed by the NATO
Support and Procurement Agency (NSPA), have also grown in size and scope. They work to strengthen the Ukrainian institutions through, for example, a dedicated programme for members of Ukraine’s defence and security sector institutions, as well as civil servants. The NSPA continues its important work to safely dispose of nuclear waste and small arms and ammunition.
Bilateral assistance In addition, several NATO Allies have set up bilateral training missions in Ukraine, such as the United Kingdom’s ‘Orbital’ and Canada’s ‘Unifier’. Lithuania and Poland created with its Ukrainian counterparts a joint brigade. Individual Allies also provide bilateral assistance to Ukraine in various areas including humanitarian, medical, military equipment. NATO’s key priority for Ukraine is to support comprehensive reform in the security and defence sector, which is vital for Ukraine’s democratic development and its ability to defend itself. NATO recognises that Ukrainian security is key to the Euro-Atlantic security as a whole.
NATO SUMMIT 2018 – BRUSSELS
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