She was speaking on Monday during the organization’s bi-annual conference held in Kyiv aimed at further strengthening co-operation between Ukraine and the alliance, Ukraine Today reports.

According to Andreychuk, Ukraine has been fighting not only for its future but also “in defense of freedom, independence and international law.” She said she also believes that the decision on Ukraine joining NATO is only one for its citizens.

The Canadian official said that it had been Russia’s strategic choice to confront its eastern neighbor after last year’s Euromaidan events and proceed with annexing Crimea and igniting military conflict in Ukraine’s east.

Meanwhile, Stepan Poltorak, Ukrainian Defense Minister said that the amount of troops and military equipment, which the militant forces operate, equal that of an average European army.

See unian.info’s video section for more of the latest news from Ukraine in video from Ukraine Today, Ukraine’s 24-hour English-language news channel.