BRUSSELS. June 14 (Interfax) - NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg has listed a security assistance and training plan for Ukraine among the key aspects concerning Ukraine in the alliance's preparations for its annual summit in Washington on July 9-11.
"We have agreed a plan that sets out how NATO will lead the coordination of security assistance and training. This will allow NATO leaders to launch this effort at the Washington Summit in July putting our support to Ukraine on a firmer footing for years to come," Stoltenberg said at a press conference following a two-day NATO Defense Ministers Meeting in Brussels on Friday.
He specifically mentioned NATO's command at the U.S. military facility in Germany's Wiesbaden and "logistical nodes in the Eastern part of the alliance" under the leadership of a three-star general reporting to the supreme allied commander Europe.
About 700 personnel from allied and partner countries are expected to be involved in this coordination work.
NATO will oversee the training of Ukrainian troops at training bases in allied countries, support Ukraine through planning and coordinating its support, manage the transfer and maintenance of hardware, and facilitate long-term development of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, Stoltenberg said.
"These efforts do not make NATO a party to the conflict, but they will enhance our support to Ukraine [...]. NATO security assistance and support for Ukraine is a key summit deliverable alongside a long-term financial pledge, and further steps on Ukraine's path to NATO membership," Stoltenberg said.