Opening remarks
by NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg at the NATO-Ukraine Commission at the level of Foreign Ministers
(As delivered)
So then we are ready to start. Welcome to all of you and we are ready to start this meeting of the NATO-Ukraine Commission.
We are meeting today to reaffirm NATO’s solidarity with Ukraine. As the country’s sovereignty and territorial integrity continue to be violated by Russia’s aggressive actions. NATO Allies speak with one voice: we do not – and we will not – recognise Russia’s illegal annexation of Crimea. And we are concerned about the limited progress in implementing the Minsk agreements, to achieve a peaceful settlement in eastern Ukraine. In fact, since our last meeting in December, the security situation has worsened. We will discuss the way forward. We will also assess Ukraine’s reform process and we will restate NATO’s political and practical support.
That concludes the public part of this meeting. I thank the press for being with us and we will continue in a moment. So, thank you so much.