Ukraine continues participating in foreign NATO operations

Despite a civil war in Donbass that claims enormous effort and money, Ukraine continues participating in NATO foreign operations, head of the Ukrainian mission to NATO Vadym Prystaiko has told the Ukrainian Week magazine.

“Ukraine still participates in all NATO operations. The amount of our contribution, undoubtedly, correlates with our needs in the east. But even now 40 Ukrainian troopers are in Kosovo. Besides, we take part in the NATO Response Force. Our plane is on duty now and can be used in the alliance operations,” the Ukrainian diplomat said.

According to him, besides, Ukraine “additionally trains troopers and specialists” in radiological, chemical, biological and nuclear security.

“Our military should be ready for joint operations, provide logistics under NATO standards, be guided by common military standards and combat action procedures. Actually, this is what are engaged in now, such routine work in not always fascinating, but it is really important and takes most of time,” Prystaiko said.

The Ukrainian leadership still sticks to the policy for accession into NATO, despite the fact that the alliance sees no such prospects for Ukraine. But Kiev still continues knocking on the closed door.

Another step on this way was President Petro Poroshenko’s statement on necessity to amend the constitution with clauses on its strategy of joining the European Union and NATO.