For Immediate Release
Office of the Press Secretary
June 29, 2004
Fact Sheet
Nato-Ukraine Relations
NATO launched its relationship with Ukraine in 1997 as part of its
strategy to reach out to former adversaries and to support their
integration into NATO and other Euro-Atlantic institutions. Now in its
eighth year, the NATO-Ukraine Commission (NUC) has stimulated Ukrainian
political, economic, and defense reform and improved Ukraine's ability
to participate in NATO operations.
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320 Ukrainian troops serve alongside NATO soldiers in KFOR, NATO's
peacekeeping operation in Kosovo.
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Ukrainian personnel and units participate with NATO Allies and
Partners in PfP exercises.
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NATO and Ukraine meet regularly to explore additional ways to
cooperate more closely and to support Ukraine's continued development.
Prior to the Istanbul Summit, NATO leaders last met with Ukrainian
President Kuchma during the 1999 NATO Summit in Washington.
The United States supports Ukraine aspirations for integration into
Euro-Atlantic institutions, but achieving this goal depends on Ukraine
following through with further democratic political, economic, and
defense reform.
Ukraine's record on reform and in meeting its goals in the
NATO-Ukraine Action Plan has been mixed. Ukraine has made progress in
reforming its military and defense establishment and on economic
reform. The United States, however, has been disappointed by the pace
and level of democratic reform in Ukraine. Ukraine's presidential
election in October will be a key indicator of Ukraine's commitment to
the shared democratic values which are at the core of the Alliance.
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