Ukraine has joined the NATO Enhanced Capabilities Program

Ukraine has been granted membership in NATO‘s Enhanced Capability Program (ECP). The relevant decision was made by the North Atlantic Council on Friday, June 12. Thus, Ukraine became the Alliance’s sixth such partner, along with Sweden, Finland, Australia, Georgia and Jordan.

“As a NATO partner, Ukraine has provided troops for Allied operations, including ones in Afghanistan and Kosovo, as well as for the NATO Response and Training Force. The Allies appreciate this significant contribution, which demonstrates Ukraine’s commitment to Euro-Atlantic security, “NATO explained its decision to admit Ukraine to the program.

According to the Deputy Prime Minister’s for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration Office, Ukraine will be able to participate in the planning of NATO operations and will have access to all Alliance exercises. Besides, the program opens wide opportunities for sectoral interoperability with NATO in the areas of logistics, communications and military management. Ukraine will also gain access to the best practices and priority certification of forces and means.

“This decision recognizes Ukraine’s significant contribution to the NATO mission and demonstrates the Alliance’s sustained commitment to its partnerships, despite the COVID-19 pandemic,” said NATO spokeswoman Oana Lungescu.

The Ukrainian authorities representatives thanked the partners for the new status granting.

“I am grateful to the members of the Alliance for Ukraine’s significant contribution recognition to joint peacekeeping operations in the world,” Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced on Twitter. According to the head of state, the new status is a practical solution that will allow Ukraine and the Alliance to cooperate even better for the sake of common security.

“This day has come. I am sincerely grateful to our Alliance partners for making this decision possible. Ukraine has finally received NATO Enhanced Partner status. We make each other stronger together! ” – wrote in his Twitter the Minister for Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Dmytro Kuleba.

Deputy Prime Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration Olga Stefanishyna considers Ukraine’s accession to NATO’s Enhanced Capabilities Program “a very strong signal of full-fledged operational cooperation.”