Ukraine meets all the criteria the prospective participant in the Enhanced Opportunities Program should meet, Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine Oleksandr Turchynov said during the meeting with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg at the Alliance headquarters in Brussels.
During the talks, the parties discussed the issue of countering Russian aggression in the east of Ukraine and hybrid threats Ukraine is facing, according to the NSDC press service.
According to the NSDC Secretary, compared with 2014, today Ukraine has a qualitatively new army capable of defending the country. "Based on the challenges the state is facing today, a significant part of the State budget funds are directed at the defense and security of Ukraine. Total spending on security and defense in 2017 has exceeded 5% of GDP," he said, adding that the allocations in 2018 will be similar.
In addition, the interlocutors considered the issues of reforming the security and defense sector of Ukraine, transition to NATO standards, and the difficulties arising along the path.
Mr. Turchynov thanked Mr. Stoltenberg for the recent statement at the International Security Forum on November 17 in Halifax that the NATO door is open to Ukraine and Georgia, noticing that, in order to move toward the Alliance, Ukraine "is now focused on reforms, on modernizing defense institutions, fighting corruption, and strengthening democratic institutions".
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He also highly appraised the solidarity and unity of NATO member states in restoring Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity.
Oleksandr Turchynov stated that Ukraine was interested in holding a meeting of the NATO-Ukraine Commission at the highest level during the NATO summit in Brussels in July 2018.
"Moreover, we are interested in developing practical cooperation with NATO countries, in particular, in military-technical cooperation, strengthening the defense and security of military arsenals in Ukraine, cyberdefense, etc," the NSDC Secretary noted.
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As previously reported, Secretary of the NSDC of Ukraine Oleksandr Turchynov is paying a visit to NATO Headquarters.