NATO foreign ministers have decided to intensify cooperation with Ukraine and have agreed on “concrete measures to enhance Ukraine’s ability to provide for its own security”. These were two of the points set out in the conclusions of today’s meeting, where the foreign ministers also met their Ukrainian counterpart. The NATO and Ukrainian ministers agreed, inter alia, to reinforce the NATO Liaison Office in Kiev with additional experts.
Russia’s “annexation” of Crimea is illegal and illegitimate
In their statement, the foreign ministers declare that they do not recognize Russia’s illegal and illegitimate “annexation” of Crimea. They call on Moscow to take immediate steps to fulfil its international obligations and abide by international law. Russia, they observe, has failed to respect the principles and commitments enshrined in the treaties on which the NATO-Russia partnership is based, including the undertaking not to deploy forces in the countries of Eastern Europe. Moscow, the ministers note, has seriously violated the trust on which cooperation must be based.
Package of measures
The allies announced that they have agreed on a package of measures to strengthen cooperation with their other Eastern European partners. At the June 2014 Ministerial they will review relations with Russia, with which a channel of political dialogue in the NATO-Russia Council remains open at ambassadorial level and above.
