Ukraine: NATO and Kiev officials sign cooperation agreements

Three strategic cooperation agreements were signed between NATO and Ukraine officials at Presidential Palace in Kiev after the Ukrainian National Defence and Security Council (NSDC) meeting, on Tuesday. Among them were a strategic communication partnership roadmap between the NSDC and the NATO International Staff which was signed by the Secretary of the National Defence and Security Council of Ukraine Oleksandr Turchynov and NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg. The purpose of the second agreement, signed by Ukrainian Foreign Minister Pavlo Klimkin, was to formalise the diplomatic status of NATO's representation in Ukraine. Moreover, NSDC Deputy Head Oleg Gladkovski and NATO Deputy Assistant Secretary General for Defence Investment Ernest Herold signed a joint declaration on strengthening NATO-Ukraine defence-technical cooperation. Stoltenberg told NSDC members that Ukraine can "count on political and practical support." "In these difficult times, Ukraine can rely on NATO," he said.