NATO Military Committee holds first meeting on NATO-Ukraine Council in Military Representatives format

Europe, News November 18, 2023 , by IRIA No Comments

The NATO Military Committee held the first meeting of the NATO-Ukraine Council in Military Representatives format on November 16, 2023. The NATO representatives engaged with Ukrainian counterparts to discuss the ongoing war.

The Chair of the NATO Military Committee Admiral Rob Bauer chaired the meeting and welcomed the Ukrainian Military Representative Major General Serhii Salkutsan.

Admiral Bauer said in his remarks, “It is a pleasure to welcome you at this table and this appropriate setting. We look forward to using this new and improved arena for comprehensive discussions on Ukrainian matters, and their impact on regional and global security.”

Ukrainian Military Representative to NATO, Major General Serhii Salkutsan thanked the NATO Military Committee for holding the first meeting and for the Alliance’s continued support for Ukraine.

Major General Salkutsan said, “It is an honor to join you all and to take this seat amongst Allies – but most of all we are truly honored to be part of NATO’s Partner family and we look forward to moving even closer. The support provided by NATO and its Allies has been instrumental in our fight to take back our territory, our homes, and our freedom. This new format demonstrates the importance of the relationship Ukraine and NATO have built together for almost 30 years.”

Ukraine’s Major General Salkutsan presented the NATO Military Committee with a piece of a Russian helicopter shot down by Ukrainian Armed Forces, in the first few days of the large-scale Russian offensive in February 2022.

*^{NATO Military Committee Chair Admiral Rob Bauer with Ukrainian Major General Serhii Salkutsan showing a fragment of a Russian MI-28 helicopter. (Image Credit: Twitter/@CMC_NATO)}*

In his remarks, Admiral Bauer said, “This piece of wreckage represents Ukraine’s righteous fight to take back their homeland. Ukrainians have the will, the grit, and the determination to take back what has always been rightfully theirs. And NATO will stand with Ukraine for as long as it takes.”

The Ukrainian Military Representative to NATO also provided an update on the “ongoing military activities to push back the invading Russian forces, the current capability requirements to continue the fight as well as some of the lessons learned that the Ukrainian Armed Forces have already gathered from the war,” the NATO statement read.

NATO Military Committee Chair Admiral Bauer emphasized the need for not only continued but also invigorated support for Ukraine and said that “Supporting Ukraine is in our own security interest because the world would be a more dangerous place if President Putin gets what he wants through the use of force. NATO must remain committed to providing support so that Ukraine can prevail as a sovereign nation.”

The leaders of the NATO Alliance agreed at the 2023 Vilnius summit to hold NATO-Ukraine Council meetings at the Military Representatives format and Chiefs of Defence and Military Representatives’ levels.