President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko has put into effect the decision of the National Security and Defense Council "On the Draft Law of Ukraine" On National Security of Ukraine" dated January 17.

Relevant decree No. 21/2018 dated February 5 was posted on the presidential website.

"I decide to put into effect the decision of the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine dated January 17, 2018" On the Draft Law of Ukraine "On National Security of Ukraine," the document says.

The decree comes into force from the date of its publication.

The document also encloses the decision of the National Security and Defense Council dated January 17, which states that after reviewing the draft law "On National Security of Ukraine", the Council decided to approve it and invite the president to bring this initiative to the Verkhovna Rada.

As reported, on January 17, the National Security and Defense Council discussed and approved the draft law on Ukraine's national security, which should lay groundwork for drafting and upgrading the national security and defense legislation.

According to NSDC Secretary Oleksandr Turchynov, the law on Ukraine's national security should summarize all the reforms of the country's security and defense sector that have already been implemented and are to be implemented, as well as combine not only the basic foundations of national security, but also the issues of democratic civilian control and the principles of planning in these spheres.

He said that the bill was aimed at increasing the effectiveness of the activity of all elements of the security and defense sector in accordance with the norms and standards of NATO and the EU. "The speedy adoption of this bill should be an important element in the sphere of protecting Ukrainian statehood and counteracting Russian aggression," Turchynov said.

Earlier, U.S. Secretary of Defense James Mattis noted the priority of the law on national security of Ukraine and urged the authorities of the country to take this initiative as soon as possible. "He expressed his hope that the Presidential Administration and Ukraine's parliament, the Verkhovna Rada, take swift action and pass legislation that ensures a solid legal basis for the implementation of defense reforms in support of a secure and democratic Ukraine," said the head of the Pentagon at a meeting with Poltorak.

Defense minister of Ukraine expects that the Verkhovna Rada will be able to take this initiative in the first quarter of this year.