NATO to strengthen support to Ukraine

NATO defense ministers have agreed to strengthen support for Ukraine with a Comprehensive Package of Assistance.

The package will bring together all the strands of NATO support, and help Ukraine establish more effective and efficient defense and security structures strengthen civilian control over them.

According to an alliance news release, NATO is already implementing a number of projects for the country, including command and control, cyber-defense, and rehabilitating wounded soldiers. New projects under development include countering hybrid warfare and explosive devices.

The decision on strengthened cooperation was made earlier this week in a meeting of the NATO-Ukraine Commission, in which defense ministers discussed the current security situation in eastern Ukraine with Ukrainian Defense Minister Stepan Poltorak, NATO said.

Ukraine is combating Russian-backed separatists in the region since Moscow's unilateral annexation of Ukraine's Crimea in 2014.