Chair of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine Oleksandr Turchynov met with NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen.

At the beginning of the meeting, Oleksandr Turchynov claimed that after Russia has started war in the east of Ukraine and annexed Crimea, society's attitudes towards the Euro-Atlantic integration have undergone positive changes. "Negative attitude formed by active Russian propaganda has changed to a positive one, an understanding has come that this aggression is a challenge not only for Ukraine but for the whole civilized world as it is ruining the system of collective security which was formed after World War II".     

NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen claimed the Alliance condemns actions of the Russian Federation which led to violating territorial integrity of Ukraine and illegal annexation of Crimea. He said that in this context NATO "suspended cooperation with the Russian Federation, strengthens collective security to protect all NATO members, and has decided to increase the level of assistance and cooperation with Ukraine".   

Anders Fogh Rasmussen expressed hope that Ukraine-NATO Summit, which should be held in September, will help make specific steps in establishing productive cooperation between the Parties. He also added that "Ukraine requires complex reforms, particularly, in the military sphere, and the Verkhovna Rada should play an important role in this".  

The Parties also discussed the necessity of Ukraine's active participation in long-term programmes of improving the military sphere, as well as its participation in joint exercise.

Press Service of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine http://rada.gov.ua/en/news/top_news/96643.html