
Joint statement of the NATO-Ukraine Commission marking the 20th anniversary of the Charter on a distinctive partnership between NATO and Ukraine
1. The
NATO-Ukraine Commission met today in Kyiv in the presence of President Petro Poroshenko and members of the Cabinet of Ministers of
Ukraine to mark the 20th Anniversary of the Charter on a Distinctive
Partnership between NATO and Ukraine. We also discussed the security situation
in Ukraine and reviewed the significant progress in our partnership, NATO’s
assistance and our future work. NATO reiterated its strong support for
Ukrainian sovereignty and territorial integrity within its internationally recognized
borders, and its inherent right to decide its own future and foreign policy
course free from outside interference, as set out in the Helsinki Final Act.
2. The
Charter on a Distinctive Partnership, signed at the Madrid Summit in 1997, has
contributed to building a stable, peaceful and undivided Europe. For twenty
years, the NATO-Ukraine Commission (NUC), which was established by the Charter,
has played a key role in fostering dialogue and cooperation between NATO and
Ukraine on a broad range of issues. In the context of Russia’s continuing
aggressive actions against Ukraine since 2014, the NUC has also proven to be an
essential platform for discussing pressing security issues and generating
support for Ukraine.
3. Today,
we discussed the security situation in eastern Ukraine, which continues to be
of major concern. We reaffirmed our support for the settlement of the conflict
by diplomatic means in accordance with the Minsk Agreements, which need to be
fully implemented by all parties; Russia as a signatory to the Minsk agreements
bears significant responsibility in this regard. We stressed the need to ensure
a safe and conducive environment for the OSCE SMM, to fulfil
its mandate; the OSCE monitors must have full, safe, and unhindered access
throughout Ukraine, including to the Russia-Ukraine state border. Russia
continues to provide weapons, equipment and personnel, as well as financial and
other assistance to militant groups, and to intervene militarily in the
conflict. These developments have serious implications for the stability and
security of the entire EuroAtlantic area. We call on
Russia to desist from aggressive actions and to use its considerable influence
over the militants to meet their commitments in full.
4. We
continue to call on Russia to reverse its illegal and illegitimate
self-declared "annexation” of the Crimean peninsula, which we do not and
will not recognise. We are especially concerned by
the harassment and discrimination against the Crimean Tatars and other members
of local communities. We condemn Russia’s ongoing and wide-ranging military
build-up in Crimea and we are concerned by Russia’s efforts and stated plans
for further military build-up in the Black Sea region.
5. The
Declaration to Complement the Charter on a Distinctive Partnership, along with
Ukraine’s Annual National Programme (ANP), launched
after the 2008 Bucharest Summit, underpinned Ukraine’s
efforts to take forward its political, economic, and defence-related
reforms aimed at implementing Euro-Atlantic standards. NATO welcomes Ukraine’s
continued efforts to make full use of this key instrument and other tools,
including the Planning and Review Process (PARP). Today, we were encouraged by
overall progress on the ambitious reforms underway, agreed on the continued
importance of their implementation and look forward to further progress. Allies
reiterated their commitment to further support Ukraine in its reform agenda.
6. The
Distinctive Partnership has allowed Ukraine to benefit from NATO’s experience
and assistance in the conduct of ambitious reforms in the defence
and security sector. NATO’s level of engagement with Ukraine since 2014, both
at the political level and in terms of practical work, has been unprecedented.
NATO has strengthened its advisory support in Kyiv. In that regard, we welcome
the opening of new premises of the NATO Representation to Ukraine which will
provide a new and improved venue for NATO’s work. At the Wales Summit we
launched five Trust Funds to address immediate Ukrainian needs. At the Warsaw
Summit, the Heads of State and Government endorsed the Comprehensive Assistance
Package (CAP).
7. Today,
we reviewed the implementation of the CAP and welcomed progress in the 40
tailored support measures. The CAP has facilitated alignment between NATO’s
advisory assistance and Ukraine’s reform goals, spelled out in the Strategic Defence Bulletin (SDB). The SDB represents a roadmap for defence reform reflecting Ukraine’s objective to achieve
NATO standards, including efforts aimed at strengthening civilian control over
the Ministry of Defence and the Armed Forces and
parliamentary oversight over the security and defence
sector. We are encouraged by progress in Ukraine’s reforms in the security and defence sector, including its objective to reform its Armed
Forces according to NATO standards and to achieve interoperability with NATO
forces by 2020.
8. Today, recognising the importance of learning the lessons from a
changed security environment, we launched the work of the NATO-Ukraine Platform
on Countering Hybrid Warfare. We also launched an ambitious new project under
the Trust Fund on Explosive Ordnance Disposal and Countering Improvised
Explosive Devices and the second phase of the Cyber Defence
Trust Fund. This work will further contribute to enhancing Ukraine’s defence reform, resilience and its ability to defend
itself.
9. Allies
expressed their appreciation for Ukraine’s significant contributions to Allied
operations and to the NATO Response Force, and welcomed Ukraine’s continued
commitment to this engagement, including increasing its contribution to the
Resolute Support Mission (RSM). Allies acknowledge Ukraine’s interest in the
Enhanced Opportunities Programme (EOP) NATO will
consider this in view of the decisions taken at the Wales and Warsaw Summits.
10. We will
work together to enhance and adapt our distinctive partnership, which will
contribute to building a stable, peaceful and undivided Europe. Allies value
Ukraine’s commitment to its relationship with NATO and note Ukraine’s recent
decisions in this regard. An independent, sovereign, and stable Ukraine, firmly
committed to democracy and the rule of law, is key to
Euro-Atlantic security.