Ukraine expects to receive from the Alliance a comprehensive aid package for developing defense capabilities of our country in line with NATO standards. It was said by the co-chairman of the inter-parliamentary friendship group Ukraine-Italy Serhii Alekseev during a meeting with Head of the Italian delegation to the NATO PA A. Manchulli in Rome, where he was a part of the official delegation, together with other Ukrainian parliamentarians. He noted that laws of Ukraine "On principles of internal and foreign policy" and "On National Security" determine priority of deepening cooperation with NATO to achieve the criteria required for membership in this organization.
"We appreciate the consistent political support by the Alliance's the sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity of our state, as well as that security in Europe shall not be considered separately from the issue of security in Ukraine. As a result, almost 50% of Ukrainian stand for Ukraine to join NATO," he said.
Serhii Alekseev said that the sanctions currently in force for the Russian Federation is a deterrent that prevents escalation of the military conflict in the Donbas, and to further stabilization of the situation they should be continued. Speaking about the achievements of Ukraine, the parliamentary said that the authorities of the country in a short time have managed to restore efficient army and now together with NATO‘s experts and advisers the State Program of the Armed Forces of Ukraine is being developed for the period until 2020. This document is scheduled for presentation in the course of meeting of NATO-Ukraine Commission at the highest level on July 8-9, which will be held under the Warsaw Summit.
"We also expect to receive from the NATO integrated assistance package for the development of defense capabilities of our country in line with NATO standards in the medium term, which will include a pre-existing program of Alliance’s help to Ukraine, and those currently being developed by both parties," - said the deputy. Serhii Alekseev said that the target document will make the aid of the Alliance more visible and effective.
In turn, A. Manchulli said that NATO is engaged in solving of all these problems. Thus, according to him, due to the events that occur, public opinion in Europe should be prepared to ensure that the danger is not just from the threat of terrorism, but also on flashpoints of military danger, however, this position is not shared by all members of the Italian Parliament so this should work.
Oksana Korchynska, co-chairperson of the inter-parliamentary group of friendship Ukraine-Italy, noted that NATO countries which for decades have not conducted warfare on their territories, must pay attention to the fact that in the center of Europe there is a hybrid war, which is a danger for Europe, that should be responded. She reported that she is dealing with the escape routes of the civilian population and can share this experience. Accordingly, O.Korchynska considers that the work in this direction should be on move. Another member of the friendship group Roman Romaniuk said that when a special operation of the Russian military corps in the Crimea had been launched, nor Ukrainian army nor NATO forces were not ready for it, so it is necessary to establish coordination for such a confrontation aggression.