NATO: It will be possible to talk about normal relations with Russia only after Ukraine's territorial integrity is restored
The Chairman of the NATO Military Committee, General Petr Pavel recently spoke about NATO’s unflagging support of Ukraine, noting that a return to normal relations with Russia won’t be possible until the restoration of Ukraine’s territorial integrity within its active borders.
“The NATO-Ukraine meeting was a constituent part of defense ministry negotiations that have recently ended. Negotiations of the same format will be held with the President of Ukraine, Petro Poroshenko in Warsaw, in July,” Pavel noted at the meeting in Prague.
He stressed that all member states of the Alliance unequivocally refuse to accept the annexation of Crimea. In addition, all member states of the alliance supported the plan to cooperate with Ukraine and its Armed Forces.
“There are five trust funds for NATO’s assistance to Ukraine and there are also a number of programs between NATO member countries and Ukraine that focus on training and the development of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, General Headquarters and Ministry on the basis of NATO standards,” Pavel stated.
“Ukraine has developed a detailed schedule till 2020 in order to reach a full mutual cooperation with the Alliance,” Pavel noted. Ukraine’s possible NATO membership is "an issue requiring political decisions but it’s possible only when all criteria are met." Pavel said that it was too early to talk about Ukraine’s accession to NATO. It could happen only "after several years if not decades."