NATO says the increased cooperation between the Alliance and the European Union will allow for more support for Ukraine.
In 2017 the EU and NATO are planning to open a center on countering hybrid threats, that`s according to a joint statement following a meeting of defense ministers in Brussels, the EU`s External Action press service reports.
Having discussed key security challenges December 6, the ministers endorsed over 40 proposals in seven areas of cooperation: countering hybrid threats, operational cooperation including maritime issues; cybersecurity and defense, defense capabilities, parallel and coordinated exercises and defense and security capacity-building.
”The decisions are… a major step forward. I would say that today we start a new important era in EU-NATO cooperation,” said High Representative Federica Mogherini when presenting the set to the press together with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg.
In turn, Stoltenberg said that the deepening of cooperation between the EU and NATO will allow the organizations to provide more support for Ukraine.
”Both NATO and the European Union provide support to Ukraine. We provide political support, we provide practical support… with implementing reforms, with modernizing defense and security institutions,” said Stoltenberg.
”We will also think how we can work closer together in providing support, in building capacity, in providing training and supporting countries like Ukraine,” he said.
Federica Mogherini supported such position of the NATO secretary general.
As UNIAN reported earlier, U.S. State Secretary John Kerry said that at the Ukraine-NATO Commission meeting, the Allies would affirm their support for Ukraine. He also called on Russia to work toward the implementation of Minsk agreements.
”We will support and affirm our steadfast support for the sovereignty and integrity of a democratic Ukraine,” he said. ”And we will restate, as we have consistently, that we do not support or recognize Russia`s purported annexation of Crimea or accept its continued aggression in the eastern part of the country.”
