Secretary of the NSDC of Ukraine Oleksandr Turchynov had a meeting with Deputy Secretary-General of NATO Tadzhan Ildem

Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine Oleksandr Turchynov had a meeting with Deputy Secretary-General of NATO Tadzhan Ildem.

During the meeting, the interlocutors discussed the security situation in Ukraine and deepening of cooperation between Ukraine and NATO.

According to Mr. Turchynov, despite the declared agreements on cease-fire "during the day, our positions were shelled 30 times, including with the use of prohibited weapons". "The troops of the Russian Federation are being concentrated both in the occupied territories of the Crimea and Donbas and near the border with Ukraine", - he noticed.

Oleksandr Turchynov also stressed the need to extend sanctions against the aggressor state. "The issue of the extension of sanctions is the thing that forces the Russian economy to limit expenditures on weapons; this is, first of all, the protection of not only Ukraine but Europe as well", - Oleksandr Turchynov emphasized, adding that this is why the Alliance member states, which understand the danger coming from Russia, should be concerned with the extension of sanctions.

In his turn, Mr. Ildem stressed that the aggression of the Russian Federation against Ukraine and the revision by the Russian leaders of the fundamental security principles - "is the thing that NATO is totally against".

"While Russia continues to violate international law, it will be impossible to resume cooperation with it on the same level", - he emphasized.

The parties also considered the question of reforming of the security and defense sector of Ukraine. In this context, the NSDC Secretary stressed that our country "has made great efforts to reform the security and defense sector, and in many ways, we owe it to the experts of the Alliance". "We definitely need to do much, but we clearly understand the way we need to make", - he said, adding that Euro-Atlantic integration is one of the key priorities of Ukraine.

During the meeting, the parties discussed the issue of cooperation between Ukraine and NATO in restoring the balance of forces in the Black Sea, which has been significantly impaired after the occupation of the Crimea. Mr. Turchynov and Mr. Ildem also stressed the importance of increased cooperation in NATO-Ukraine strategic communications as one of the systems of countering hybrid war unleashed by Russia.

Deputy Secretary-General of NATO emphasized that the Alliance gives credit for Ukraine's efforts in reforming of the security and defense sector, and "is ready to continue aiding Ukraine on this way". "We understand that strong and independent Ukraine will significantly enhance the security and potential of the whole Europe", - Tadzhan Ildem summarized.