Strengthened NATO Representation in Ukraine is the basis for building cooperation with the Alliance: Olha Stefanishyna at meeting with NATO Assistant Secretary General

On Wednesday, 11 September, in Kyiv, Deputy Prime Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration of Ukraine and Minister of Justice of Ukraine Olha Stefanishyna met with NATO’s Assistant Secretary General for Operations Thomas Goffus. The meeting was joined by the newly appointed head of the NATO Representation in Ukraine Patrick Turner.

The Deputy Secretary General came to Kyiv to participate in consultations on the next steps of the Interoperability Roadmap and to accelerate the launch of NATO’s Security Assistance and Training for Ukraine (NSATU) initiative.

The parties discussed the implementation of the agreements reached during the NATO Summit in Washington, defence support for Ukraine and further deepening of cooperation between Ukraine and the Alliance, in particular in the context of the work of the NATO Representation in Ukraine.

“The strengthened NATO Representation in Ukraine is the basis for expanding operational cooperation with the Alliance. It will help coordinate work with all partners and make sure that military support comes to Ukraine in a timely manner and meets our immediate needs. This way, we will be able to think and act more strategically on the battlefield and move confidently towards victory in the war,” the Deputy Prime Minister said.

In the context of the outcome of the NATO Summit in Washington, the government official stressed the strategic importance of the decisions taken for the future of Ukraine and its further movement towards NATO membership.

“The decision on the irreversibility of Ukraine’s path to NATO was one of the most important signals of the Washington Summit. It proves that nothing is impossible for Ukraine. It gives us confidence in the full support of our partners, their belief in Ukraine’s victory and our ability to become stronger,” Olha Stefanishyna stressed.

The official emphasised that an invitation to join NATO could become a key element of deterring russia and a source of strength and new energy for Ukraine and its allies when it comes to ending the war. “This would be a crucial signal for Ukraine, and we will continue to work with our allies in this direction until such a decision is made.”

She also stressed that Ukraine would continue to implement the Interoperability Roadmap and the adapted Annual National Programme.

The parties also focused on the continuation of sustained support for Ukraine from the Alliance and Allies.

In the context of her appointment as Minister of Justice, Olha Stefanishyna noted that this decision would strengthen the process of transformation, including in the Euro-Atlantic direction.

“We have a solid legal basis in our daily activities and we do not stop on the path of our transformations. Our Ministry of Justice has a huge potential to develop legislation and prepare the legal framework. It is very important to bring the issues that will arise in the course of further policy-making of the Ministry of Defence and the entire defence and security sector in line with the best NATO standards,” the Deputy Prime Minister said.