“We were working side by side for many years,” – Stoltenberg praised Poroshenko’s reforms for Ukraine’s NATO membership

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg praised the reforms implemented during Petro Poroshenko’s presidency for Ukraine’s membership in the Alliance.

He said that during NATO Parliamentary Assembly events, Censor.NET reported with reference to the "Obozrevatel".

Jens Stoltenberg stressed that the Alliance supports Ukraine’s movement towards further European integration, in particular, to EU membership.

"We believe that the focus should be on reforms, on the modernization of the country," – he said.

"I see President Poroshenko here in the hall. We were working with him side by side for many years," – Jens Stoltenberg said.

He noted that the Alliance is stepping up its support for Ukraine and cooperation in the context of continued destabilization of the situation in the east of the country and in the Crimea.

He said that in a few weeks the North Atlantic Council would come to Ukraine "to express its strong political support."

"And as Alliance members, we are stepping up practical support for Ukraine. Because this support not only helps Ukraine, but generally supports the rules-based order. Which is very important for all of us," – NATO Secretary General stressed.

He expressed his hope that the NATO-Ukraine partnership would continue to strengthen.

"It is good for both NATO and Ukraine to modernize our security and defense institutions," – the Secretary General of the Alliance said.Source: https://censor.net.ua/en/n3153788