Ukraine can set out its version of defense reform at NATO's Warsaw summit - U.S. defense official
KYIV. April 14 (Interfax) - Ukraine will be able to present its vision of a defense reform at a meeting of the NATO-Ukraine Commission (NUC) during the Warsaw summit, United States Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense Michael Carpenter has said.
Speaking at a security forum in Kyiv on Thursday, Carpenter said that the Warsaw summit will demonstrate NATO's ability to contain and defend against Russian aggression, its attendees will talk about improving the defense policy. As for Ukraine, NATO is planning a full-scale NUC meeting where the Ukrainian political leadership will have a chance to propose their vision of the defense reform, said Carpenter, adding that NATO members will in turn be able to offer their support for Ukraine.
Although there is no consensus yet within NATO over Ukraine's membership, the open doors policy remains in place for potential and prospective members of the alliance, he said.
It is hoped that Ukraine, Georgia, Bosnia and other countries will make further progress in their aspiration to become part of NATO, said the U.S. defense official.
The U.S. will allocate $3.4 billion for common European initiatives, in particular, defense and security ones, he said. This involves broadening the presence of rotational forces in Poland, Bulgaria, Romania and the Baltic States. The U.S. is planning to finance not only training programs but combat equipment as well.
Containing aggression will only be successful with the necessary set of tools, Carpenter said.
The NUC will meet during a NATO summit in Warsaw this July.