On 1 December 2021, Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba, together with his Georgian counterpart, took part in a meeting of the North Atlantic Council at the level of Ministers of Foreign Affairs.

The Ukrainian Foreign Minister briefed NATO Allies in detail on Russia’s aggravation of the security situation in Donbas, the build-up of Russian forces along the border with Ukraine, and of the danger of a new Russian invasion and increased Russian disinformation.

Dmytro Kuleba rejected Russian fakes about Ukraine’s alleged preparations for an offensive operation in Donbas and reaffirmed Ukraine’s commitment to an exclusively political-diplomatic settlement of the Russian-Ukrainian armed conflict, readiness to continue working within the Trilateral Contact Group and the Normandy format.

The Minister stressed that the joint efforts of Ukraine and NATO Allies will help deter Russia from further aggressive actions and suggested that Allies take a number of concrete steps, including increasing sanctions and strengthening Ukraine’s defence capabilities.

“Ukraine is actively working with partners to implement a comprehensive deterrence package consisting of political, economic and security measures. It is aimed at discouraging Russia from the worst-case scenario. By demonstrating strength now, we avoid the need to prove it later,” said Dmytro Kuleba.

The Foreign Minister expressed gratitude to the Allies for their support of Ukraine and readiness to help strengthen Ukraine′s security. He underlined that strengthening Ukraine and NATO’s eastern flank would be mutually beneficial for the Alliance and Ukraine.

The Allies expressed strong support for Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.

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Photo Credit: Ukrinform