Kyiv invites NATO to jointly develop strategy of deterring Russia in Black Sea region
KYIV. May 7 (Interfax) - Ukraine stands ready together with NATO to join efforts to work out joint measures to protect the Black Sea region and counter the spread of Covid-19, Ukrainian Deputy Prime Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration Vadym Prystaiko said.
"Deputy Prime Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration of Ukraine Vadym Prystaiko noted that Ukraine and NATO need to develop a strategy of deterring Russia in the Black Sea region in the information, economic, legal, and military fields. Apart from that, Ukraine would like to see a larger presence of NATO and U.S. naval forces in the Black Sea," Prystaiko's press service said following a videoconference with the ambassadors of NATO member countries and the alliance's Representation to Ukraine.
Prystaiko also noted Ukraine's active role in NATO's efforts aimed at countering the coronavirus pandemic.
"Ukraine is ready to join international efforts to develop uniform measures for the civilian, military, and economic spheres in order to overcome the consequences of the pandemic and cushion the impact of the quarantine on the economy. Moving toward its membership in NATO, Ukraine is gladly helping our partners in strategic air transport operations. Ukrainian planes are actively helping with the delivery of medical cargoes as part of the SALIS [Strategic Airlift International Solution] program," he said.
"Everyone is troubled by the spread in the media of different conspiracy theories aimed at weakening the ability of NATO and EU states to jointly respond to the crisis caused by the coronavirus pandemic. Such deliberate actions are doing additional harm to society, which has already experienced considerable upheavals because of the crisis," Prystaiko said.