NATO to confirm support of Ukraine's territorial integrity at Warsaw summit

NATO member states at a summit in Warsaw will confirm the political support for Ukraine's territorial integrity and call on Russia to stop destabilizing the country's east, Director of the NATO Liaison Office in Ukraine Alexander Vinnikov has said.

"In Warsaw, we will reaffirm our strong political support to Ukraine. We will reaffirm our support for the sovereignty of Ukraine, its territorial integrity. The Allies do not recognize the annexation of Crimea. We call on Russia to stop the destabilization in Ukraine," Vinnikov said in Kyiv on Wednesday at a press briefing entitled "NATO Warsaw Summit 2016 and Ukraine" organized by the Lithuanian Embassy and the NATO Liaison Office in Ukraine.

He also noted that there will be a call for the implementation of the Minsk agreements by all signatories.

The NATO chief representative recalled that last week the defense ministers of the Allies agreed on an assistance package for Ukraine. "It should now be a statement at the level of heads of state and governments in Warsaw," he added.

According to Vinnikov, Ukraine's progress in reforming its defense system will be also assessed at the summit.