NATO Deputy Secretary General Mircea Geoană welcomed the Chairman of the Verkhova Rada of Ukraine, Dmytro Razumkov, to NATO Headquarters on Monday (22 March 2021). The Deputy Secretary General thanked Ukraine for its continued contributions to NATO missions, including in Kosovo and Afghanistan. He also welcomed that NATO and Ukraine have supported each other throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Deputy Secretary General and the Chairman discussed the security situation in Ukraine and the Black Sea region. Mr. Geoană expressed concern over the erosion of the ceasefire in eastern Ukraine, and reaffirmed NATO’s full support for Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. He also welcomed the high-level of dialogue and cooperation between NATO and Ukraine on security in the Black Sea region, which remains a priority for the Alliance.
The Deputy Secretary General praised Ukraine’s efforts to implement wide-ranging reforms, which support its Euro-Atlantic aspirations. He noted that the Verkhovna Rada plays a crucial role in driving these reforms, and encouraged the parliament to support democratic oversight mechanisms.