“NATO stands by your side”: Stoltenberg addressed Ukraine’s parliament

“But our partnership is not a one way street. Despite facing challenging circumstances at home, Ukraine has, over many years, proven to be a strong and effective partner to NATO. Taking part in NATO missions around the world. From our training mission in Afghanistan to deploying a heavy engineering unit to Kosovo. It also contributes to the NATO Response Force. And is preparing to contribute to NATO’s training mission in Iraq. Ukraine helps to improve Euro-Atlantic security. And I thank you for that,” he said.

The secretary general has said he is convinced that the newly elected parliament has “an historic opportunity to change Ukraine to the better.”

“And you have already made a strong start. I look forward to the implementation of the Law of National Security, passed last year. With parliamentary oversight over the security agencies and defense institutions.  And the reform of the Security Service,” Stoltenberg said, adding that the reform will support Ukraine’s aspiration to one day join NATO.

“As a sovereign nation, Ukraine has the right to choose its own security arrangements. NATO’s door remains open,” Stoltenberg stressed.

He also spoke of his Wednesday’s visit to the National Maritime Academy of Odesa, which “NATO has supported since the illegal annexation of Crimea.”

“And yesterday we also had four NATO ships in the harbor of Odesa, demonstrating the strong commitment of the NATO Allies to this country,” he said. “The future of this country rests with its young people, like the many cadets I had the pleasure to meet. Their intelligence, their passion and their professionalism shone through. Speaking with them, gave me tremendous hope for Ukraine’s future. Ukraine has come a long way, and there is further to go. NATO stands with you because we share the same values. A love for freedom and democracy. Respect for human rights and the rule of law.”

As in his previous address to the Verkhovna Rada, Stoltenberg quoted Taras Shevchenko’s poem: “It’s terrible to lie in chains, to rot in dungeon deep, but it’s still worse, when you are free to sleep, and sleep, and sleep.”

Stoltenberg concluded his speech with words about freedom, which he says is “not only a right” but an “obligation to act not simply in our own self-interest, but in the best interests of all people.”

The NATO chief has called on people’s deputies “to work together across party lines, for the benefit of all citizens of Ukraine.”

“NATO stands by your side,” said Jens Stoltenberg.

Iryna Shevchenko