NATO Again Recognizes Ukraine’s Geostrategic Role

On January 27, NATO Secretary General George Robertson arrived in Kyiv on a two-day official visit. He was visiting Ukraine for the fourth time, but this is his first visit in the capacity of alliance leader.

It is significant that the new Secretary General should have first come to Kyiv and only then — and the exact date remains unknown — will he visit Moscow. Incidentally, Russian Deputy Premier Illia Klebanov said on January 27 that the state defense procurements would be increased 1.5 times this year, while expenditures for the development of the most advanced armaments will rise by 80%. Expenditures for weapons purchases by the Russian Army will rise by the same percentage, Interfax reports.

Meanwhile, in Kyiv, after meeting the President of Ukraine, the Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council, and the Minister of Foreign Affairs, the NATO Secretary General stressed at a press conference: “The strategic partnership between NATO and Ukraine is developing in an extremely successful way. This partnership demonstrates the geostrategic importance of your country and NATO’s commitment to assisting Ukraine in this transitional stage of its development. I would like to note this cooperation is of a purely practical nature.”

In addition, Lord Robertson spoke in favor of the alliance rendering aid to “strengthen” Ukraine, for the latter is, in his words, a linchpin in the European security system.

Equally significant is the fact that Lord Robertson paid special attention to communicating with Ukraine’s promising youth: he met students of the Diplomatic Academy under the Foreign Ministry and cadets at Ukraine’s Defense Academy.

(See page DAY AFTER DAY for interview with NATO Secretary General Lord Robertson)