Petro Poroshenko said that Ukraine has now become the object of aggression. He noted the terrorist nature of the organizations operating in the Luhansk and Donetsk regions.

According to him, Ukraine has established all conditions for the work of international experts to investigate the circumstances of "Malaysia Airlines" aircraft shootdown. Unfortunately, as Petro Poroshenko said yesterday, experts had to stop their work after the attacks by terrorists.

The Head of State also said that Ukraine is concerned about the possibility of further escalation of aggression, and in this situation it is very important to "effectively cooperate with NATO".

A number of proposals have been prepared for cooperation with NATO in the areas of military training, procurement and establishment of the mechanism of "crisis consultation."

The President noted that Ukraine and NATO have significant potential for cooperation, particularly in the military and technical, aviation and space sectors. Also, a significant civil engineering potential of NATO would be of great help Ukraine to rebuild the infrastructure in the Donbas, as it previously happened during the elimination of the consequences of technological disaster in Kharkiv.

Anders Fogh Rasmussen, in turn, said that it was his first visit to Ukraine since 2011. On this occasion, he congratulated Petro Poroshenko on the Association Agreement with the EU being signed.

He also noted that according to the decision of the Bucharest Summit in 2008, NATO remains open to Ukraine and recognizes that each country has a right to their own identity. "Today Ukraine has a law that defines its neutral status. We respect it. If Ukraine decides to change this law, we will also respect it", said the Secretary General of the North Atlantic Alliance.

In response Petro Poroshenko drew attention of Anders Fogh Rasmussen that due to recent developments a significant growth is noticed among the Ukrainians in the number of supporters of the Euro-Atlantic course of Ukraine, and it cannot be ignored in the perspective.

The interlocutors discussed in detail further deepening of cooperation in the context of shaping the agenda of Ukraine-NATO Commission meeting, which will take place in 4 weeks, and inclusion of Ukrainian question to the declaration of NATO Summit to be held in Wales, UK, on 4-5 September 2014.

Press Service of the President of Ukraine