РНБОУ National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine

With the participation of NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg and Secretary of the NSDC of Ukraine Oleksandr Turchynov, the meeting of the NATO-Ukraine Commission took place

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg and Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine Oleksandr Turchynov took part in the meeting of the NATO-Ukraine Commission at the Ambassadors level.

Secretary of the NSDC of Ukraine presented a detailed report on the security situation in the East of Europe and scenarios for its development, counteraction to the hybrid aggression of the Russian Federation, and also informed on the priority measures aimed at strengthening Ukraine's security.

Secretary of the NSDC of Ukraine called Russia's revanchist policy, aimed at restoring its regional and partly global dominance, "a major factor determining the destabilization of the security situation in the East of Europe and on the continent as a whole".

In this context, he emphasized Russia's aggression towards Ukraine noticing that Russia methodically transforms the Crimea into a powerful military base; over 10 300 people have died in the bloody war in Donbas, including more than 2 500 civilians and more than 200 children. "Peaceful cities of Ukraine have been turned by Russians into a proving ground for the most advanced types of military equipment and weapons", - Mr. Turchynov stressed.

At the same time, Secretary of the NSDC of Ukraine pointed out that "Russian troops and Russia's occupational administration, not rebel formations, are operating in Donbas". According to him, the Russian Federation launched a powerful military group in the occupied territory of Donetsk and Luhansk regions, which is part of the 8th Combined Arms Army of the Southern Military District of the Russian Armed Forces.

"Russia is building a strong military infrastructure along the border with Ukraine and may launch large-scale hostilities against our state at the order of Kremlin at any moment. Moreover, Putin's decision will not depend on Ukraine's actions. On the contrary, a much more important factor for launching Russia's foreign policy and military undertakings is the development of the domestic political situation in Russia", - Mr. Turchynov said adding that the threat to the NATO member states is increasing rapidly as well.

Secretary of the NSDC of Ukraine expressed his gratitude to the Allies for their consistent support of Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity, pointing out that it is vital to strengthen the international coalition in support of Ukraine and prevent the lifting of sanctions against the Russian Federation until the complete restoration of the territorial integrity of our state.

As previously reported, Secretary of the NSDC of Ukraine Oleksandr Turchynov is paying a visit to NATO Headquarters.