Ministers, Members of Parliament, Colleagues, Distinguished Guests,

It is a privilege to speak in such a distinguished forum, especially at such a critical time for Euro-Atlantic security.  NATO is pleased to be associated with the Kyiv Security Forum, and I’d like to extend a special word of appreciation to my colleagues at the NATO Information and Documentation Centre here in Kyiv for their efforts in support of today’s event.

Russia’s military intervention in Ukraine is the most serious crisis in Europe since the fall of the Berlin Wall.  The illegal annexation of part of Ukraine’s sovereign territory constitutes a flagrant breach of Russia’s international commitments.  It is far removed from the cooperation and peace-building that we expect from modern states. And it has endangered our vision of a Europe whole, free and at peace. 

As NATO Secretary General Rasmussen has said, Russia’s actions have been a wake-up call for everyone in the Euro-Atlantic community. President Putin has undermined the “rulebook” of inter-state relations that has been carefully written since the end of the Second World War, and he has violated the many principles that Russia committed to uphold after the end of the Cold War. 

His actions pose a real threat to an open, rules-based international system based on respect for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of all states and their right to make their own choices without fear of intimidation or interference.

Last week, while meeting in Brussels, NATO Foreign Ministers discussed events in and around Ukraine.  They reaffirmed the Alliance’s commitment to collective defence -- and they also made some important decisions regarding our support to Ukraine and our relations with Russia.

So far, NATO has responded to the crisis in Ukraine in four ways, in close coordination with the sanctions and other measures undertaken by NATO Allies and the European Union:

• First, NATO Ministers condemned Russia’s illegal military intervention.  We reaffirmed our full support for the sovereignty and the territorial integrity of Ukraine and the inviolability of its internationally recognised borders.

• Second, we have agreed to strengthen our support for Ukraine through intensified political and military cooperation. This will include intensifying our cooperation on defence reform, capacity building and capability development. 

• This cooperation includes improving the ability of Ukrainian forces to operate together with Allied forces and greater participation in NATO exercises, so that Ukraine can continue to be a contributor to regional and global security.  We have seen Ukraine contribute significantly to NATO missions in the Balkans, in Afghanistan, and in our maritime counter-piracy mission, Ocean Shield. 

• At Ukraine’s request, we have already sent an expert team to provide advice on the protection of critical infrastructure. 

• We will also reinforce the NATO Liaison Office here in Kyiv with additional experts.

• And Allies will intensify our engagement with Ukrainian civil society by reinforcing the NATO Information and Documentation Centre here in Kyiv.  The Centre will be enhancing its program of outreach activities, increasing its public engagement efforts, and bolstering its support for civil society networks.

• These are tangible signs of Allied support.  NATO stands ready to intensify its practical cooperation with Ukraine in areas where the Alliance can add value.

• Third, we reaffirmed our commitment to collective defence.  We reaffirmed that Article 5 of the Washington Treaty is absolute, and that NATO will come to the defence of its members.  Allies have already deployed additional fighter jets to police the airspace of our Baltic members. We have also begun surveillance flights over Poland and Romania. 

• Finally, NATO Foreign Ministers decided last week to suspend all practical cooperation with Russia, military and civilian. Our political dialogue will continue to allow us to exchange views on the current crisis and its resolution.  But clearly, there can be no business as usual.  Through its actions, Russia has chosen to undermine the very foundations upon which our cooperation is built.

Secretary General Rasmussen has urged Russia to step back. He has called on Russia to pull back the tens of thousands of troops it has massed on Ukraine's borders, to engage in a genuine dialogue with the Ukrainian authorities, and to respect its international commitments.

In the next weeks and months, we will consider the implications of Russia’s violation of the letter and spirit of its obligations, including those it assumed in the NATO-Russia Founding Act of 1997 and the Rome Declaration of 2002.  Clearly, the nature of our relationship with Russia will need to be reassessed.

Engagement with Russia remains our preferred way forward.  Our past cooperation has borne real fruit and, in many areas, this cooperation could continue when conditions are right. But we must face the possibility that for the foreseeable future, Russia will present a challenge to our aspiration for a Europe that is whole, free and at peace. 

As we look ahead, Russia’s actions will also cast the NATO Summit in Wales this September in a very different light.  These developments may not fundamentally alter the key themes we will be addressing at the Summit, but it certainly adds urgency to the agenda.

The Summit will still be about the future of the Alliance and will set priorities for the Alliance for the period after 2014, following the completion of our decade-long mission in Afghanistan.  Many of our Summit deliverables may, in fact, be the same.  But we will need to work towards them with a new sense of urgency, taking into account the challenges that have emerged over the past several weeks – and the lessons we can draw from them.

A first, crucial lesson is that we must maintain a strong defence and deterrence in Europe.  That means investing sufficiently in defence and security. We cannot continue to cut our defence budgets every year while others around the world continue to boost theirs.

A second key lesson is that we need not only the right capabilities to project stability, but also the right relationships.  And so we must deepen our partnerships.  This includes intensifying our support for Ukraine and our other Eastern partners.  And we must continue to keep our door open for new countries to join our Alliance while making clear that no outside power can have a veto.

Finally, the recent crisis has demonstrated the value of the transatlantic bond.  And so we will use our Wales Summit to reaffirm the essential security link between America and Europe, and our determination to share the responsibilities and rewards of security.  

Ladies and gentlemen,

In the face of Russia’s military intervention, NATO will continue to adhere to our values and principles: freedom, democracy, individual liberty, and the rule of law.  We will continue to protect our Allies.  But we will also continue to stand up for the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Ukraine and all our partners, and for their right to decide on their own future. 

Thank you.

NATO Newsroom