Foreign Minister Pavlo Klimkin meets with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg

On October 15, 2018, Ukraine's Foreign Minister Pavlo Klimkin met with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg at the NATO Headquarters in Brussels.

During the meeting, the sides discussed the common security challenges faced by NATO member states and Ukraine, in particular the security situation in  the Black Sea and Sea of Azov. The NATO Secretary General confirmed that measures within the framework of enhanced advanced presence in Eastern Europe and the Baltic region, adaptation and creation of new military structures, and significant increase in military expenditures are a clear response of the he North Atlantic Alliance to Russia's growing aggressive policy.

While touching upon the spheres of practical cooperation, Pavlo Klimkin urged to intensify the work of the NATO Trust Fund projects aimed to contribute to the strengthening of the safety of ammunition depots in Ukraine, which is of significant importance due to the events in Ichnia, Chernihiv region. The parties agreed with the necessity of joint constant control over the effectiveness of using the Alliance's assistance to our country.

The sides exchanged opinions  on the working mechanisms of the special partnership between Ukraine and NATO, in particular the meetings of the NATO-Ukraine Commission at the ministerial level. According to Jens Stoltenberg, the key to unlocking the Commission's work lies in the agreement between Ukraine and Hungary on the issue of ensuring the rights of the Hungarian minority. The full implementation of the official opinion of the European Commission for Democracy through Law (Venice Commission) on provisions of the Law of Ukraine on Education will be an important step forward.  The Foreign Minister stressed that the goal of the state is to guarantee equal rights to the inhabitants of Zakarpattia region, to create conditions for full development as citizens of Ukraine, support of their languages, traditions and culture.