Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine Oleksandr Turchynov stresses the need for the development of military-technical cooperation between Ukraine and NATO, and sees the restoration of Ukraine's missile defense system as a priority.

"In general, Ukraine hammered out its strategic vision of the development of the national security system and the security and defense sector in 2015 and the first half of 2016. Most of its legislative and regulatory framework has been formed. Certain strategic objectives of the reform are actively being implemented. Therefore, the first phase of the reform of the national security and defense system is over," Turchynov wrote in an article titled "The National Security of Ukraine: Challenges and Priorities," published in the Holos Ukrainy parliamentary newspaper on Wednesday.

He stresses that the national security and defense reform was supported by a majority of Ukrainian citizens and foreign partners, first of all by NATO member states.

"Cooperation with NATO becomes deeper, the Alliance's standards are consistently implemented in Ukraine's security and defense sector. Six new trust funds have been created together with the partners; experts from NATO member states have been involved in the processes of the development of the security and defense sector, military and technical cooperation with these countries follows its course. The NATO Summit in Warsaw endorsed a Comprehensive Assistance Package for Ukraine," Turchynov wrote.

He also added that strong impetus had been given to the development of the domestic military-industrial complex, which has become one of the priority sectors of the economy, and the National Security and Defense Council outlined major directions for the development of the defense industry and set tasks to provide the Armed Forces of Ukraine and other military formations with modern weapons and military equipment.

"The restoration of Ukraine's missile defense system should become an absolute priority along with an increase in the combat capabilities of artillery systems, the restoration of a reliable air defense system, ammunition production, the development of telecoms equipment, automated troop command and intelligence systems," Turchynov wrote.