BRUSSELS – Ukraine wants to expand cooperation with NATO in the field of security in the Black Sea, Prime Minister of Ukraine Denys Shmyhal said.
“We have offered the Alliance our vision for the practical action of the Enhanced Opportunities Partner. We are interested in expanding cooperation with the Alliance in the field of security in the Black Sea,” Shmyhal said at a press conference after talks with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg in Brussels on Feb. 9.
According to the prime minister, together with the NATO Secretary General, he discussed the prospects for expanding practical cooperation with the Alliance.
“Ukraine will remain an important and predictable NATO partner aspiring to join the Alliance. Reform implementation is the basis for Ukraine to obtain the NATO Membership Action Plan. This is our key short-term goal. At this stage, the annual national program plays the most important role in reforming Ukraine, moving towards NATO standards, and preparation for NATO membership,” Shmyhal said.
He also said that Ukraine intended this year to begin construction of two naval bases in the Black and Azov Seas.
“We will do this within the framework of the established budget [and this year 5.93% of GDP is the largest budget for the security and defense of our state in recent years], and, in addition, this will also be done within the framework of cooperation with our British partners, who allocate appropriate credit money for this,” the prime minister said.
