NATO to strengthen political and practical support for Ukraine and Georgia – Stoltenberg
Ukraine reports 5,276 new COVID-19 cases Zelensky: Every third Ukrainian considers road construction one of greatest achievements of 2021 Ukraine ready to implement Minsk agreements, but Russia's desire needed - Yermak Michel: EU unanimously agree to roll over economic sanctions against Russia Actions by Ukraine's partners will help prevent worst-case scenario - Zelensky COVID-19 in Ukraine: Health officials confirm 8,899 daily cases as of Dec 17 Macron tells Zelensky he declared support for Ukraine in call with Putin Zelensky, Scholz discuss gas transit through Ukraine after 2024 Ukraine ready for any format of talks with Russia - Zelensky Ukraine’s only journalist in Russia facing extremism charges - lawyer PM Shmyhal: First two applications for investment projects worth $96 million filed Zelensky, PM of Italy discuss security situation around Ukraine President signs off State Budget 2022 London considering all options for responding to Russia's aggression against Ukraine Putin, Biden to hold another round of talks Some 260,000 Ukrainians “victims of human trafficking” over 30 years - prosecutor general Ukraine plans to create center to protect energy infrastructure from cyber attacks No clear idea so far when Normandy Four top diplomats set to meet - German Ambassador Ukraine receives EUR 600M in macro-financial assistance from EU Zelensky holds phone conversation with PM of Israel Ukraine sets new daily COVID vaccination record MFA: European Union has not yet removed Ukraine from list of safe countries Kyiv records 1,023 new COVID-19 cases, 29 deaths G7 ambassadors welcome adoption of law on NABU status Ukraine can increase Covid vaccination rates to 1.5M a week – Liashko

The North Atlantic Alliance intends to further strengthen political and practical support for Ukraine and Georgia, which are close and highly valued partners of NATO in the Black Sea region.
NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said this during a press conference following the meeting of NATO Ministers of Foreign Affairs on March 23 , an Ukrinform correspondent reports.

“We are looking into how we can further strengthen the partnership both the political and the practical support. We also welcome the fact that both Ukraine and Georgia are providing support and help to different NATO missions and operations... So the main message, again a part of the NATO 2030 agenda, is how can we further do more, how can we strengthen partnership with neighbors, because it is in our interest that our neighbors are stable and successful, and, both Ukraine and Georgia are actually aspirant countries for NATO membership and we support them also in implementing reforms, so they can move forward on the Euro-Atlantic path,” Stoltenberg stressed.

Answering a question from journalists, the Secretary General noted that in response to Russia's aggressive behavior, NATO had increased its presence in the Black Sea region with three littoral states: Turkey, Romania and Bulgaria are NATO members, and then two: Ukraine and Georgia are close NATO partners. “We have increased our presence on land, at sea, in the air, but we have also stepped up the cooperation with close and highly valued partners - Georgia and Ukraine,” he said.

“The best way for us to send a clear message to Russia is partly that we have implemented the biggest reinforcements of our collected defense since the end of the Cold War. With new battle groups in the eastern part of the Alliance, with high readiness of our forces, we have increased defence spending, with more exercises, and with stepping up our cooperation with partners like Georgia and Ukraine. I think that sends a very clear message to any potential adversary to NATO,” Stoltenberg emphasized.

A two-day meeting of the North Atlantic Council (NAC) at the level of Ministers of Foreign Affairs kicked off in Brussels on March 23 to address important challenges facing the Alliance.