NATO pledges support to Ukraine

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg on Monday pledged "ongoing political and practical support" to Ukraine when meeting with Ukrainian Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk at NATO Headquarters, according a statement posted on NATO official website.

The Secretary General praised Ukraine's commitment to its partnership with NATO despite challenging circumstances.

"Your visit just underlines the strong partnership between NATO and Ukraine. We also very much appreciate that we are able to develop our partnership. And especially because the people of Ukraine have chosen the path of democracy and closer cooperation with Europe," Stoltenberg said.

The Secretary General said that five trust funds created by NATO to help Ukraine improve its own security are now up and running.

"They aim to make Ukraine's defense forces more modern, more transparent, and more effective", the Secretary General said. "NATO fully supports Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity".

Calling the Minsk agreements "the best way to a peaceful solution," Stoltenberg praised Ukraine's efforts to implement the accords, and called on Russia to do the same. Enditem