NATO Deputy Secretary General Rose Gottemoeller reaffirmed the Alliances strong support for Ukraine in a speech on Thursday (6 April 2017). Speaking at the Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv, she said a recent meeting of the NATO-Ukraine Commission underscored the Alliances ongoing and steadfast support for Ukraines sovereignty and territorial integrity. The Deputy Secretary General said Ukraine is a valued NATO partner and that, NATO does not, and will not, accept Russias illegal and illegitimate annexation of Crimea. And we condemn Russias ongoing destabilization in eastern Ukraine.

Ukraine has been an important NATO partner for many years, having joined the North Atlantic Cooperation Council in 1991 and NATOs Partnership for Peace program in 1994. Ms. Gottemoeller said the country is making a great deal of progress on its reform agenda and it could rely on NATOs continued support on this issue.

Ms. Gottemoeller highlighted NATOs Comprehensive Assistance Package for Ukraine, which includes more than forty tailored support measures and six different multi-million-euro Trust Funds.

Among them is the Medical Rehabilitation Trust Fund, which provides support to wounded soldiers as well as to hospitals and physicians. Only last week, NATO opened a new rehabilitation facility in Kharkiv. In September, a Ukrainian team of athletes whom NATO helped to rehabilitate will compete in the 2017 Invictus Games in Toronto.

After her speech, the Deputy Secretary General met Ukraines President Petro Poroshenko, the Prime Minister Volodymyr Groysman, Deputy Prime Minister Ivanna Klympush-Tsintsadze and other senior government figures.

Read more:

Deputy Secretary General: Ukraine is a valued NATO partner - NATO HQ (press release)