Defense Minister of Ukraine Rustem Umarov says that the Ukrainian Defense Ministry is seeking to create mechanisms for rapprochement between NATO and Ukraine in the field of defense industry, the Ministry of Defense said on its website on Thursday.

"Ukraine and NATO countries should focus on developing long-term defense capabilities and a sustainable defense industry. The Ministry of Defense of Ukraine seeks to create mechanisms that bring together defense industry partners of the Alliance member countries and Ukraine. We are ready to create joint ventures, joint investments, localization of production, scaling up production in the defense sector," Umerov said at the second meeting of the Ukraine-NATO Council at the level of defense ministers.

According to the Minister, interoperability is one of the key pillars of the modernization of the Armed Forces of Ukraine – in technical, procedural, human and information dimensions.

"We should be able to communicate more effectively, share data faster and more securely, avoid duplication, and save valuable resources where possible. Russia's full–scale invasion has shown that interoperability is an important part of our common defense capability," Umerov added.

The Minister also noted that the Washington NATO summit should become a platform for new decisive steps that will bring Ukraine closer to membership in the Alliance.

As noted in the message, the allies stressed the need to ensure the sustainable and timely provision of all necessary assistance to Ukraine and the importance of strengthening the capabilities of the defense industries of NATO member states. A number of states have also announced their readiness to conclude bilateral security agreements with Ukraine in the near future.

In addition, according to the results of the meeting of the Ukraine-NATO Council, it was decided to launch JATEC (NATO-Ukraine Joint Analysis, Training and Education Centre), a joint center for analysis, training and education.