site.btaUPDATED PM Denkov at NATO Summit: Three Important Decisions Taken Regarding Ukraine

Prime Minister Nikolay Denkov told journalists on Wednesday in Vilnius that three important decisions were taken regarding Ukraine during the NATO Summit there. 

According to him, the most important thing is the creation of the NATO-Ukraine council, "which puts Ukraine's President at the table together with the other heads of state". This allows the Ukrainian President to be on equal footing with the rest when common issues are discussed, including convening a meeting of NATO if necessary, Denkov said. 

The second important decision concerns the dropping of the need for Ukraine to implement the Membership Action Plan because, in his words, the Ukrainians "have gone through many of the steps and it is considered a redundant procedure for them, which simplifies the way of accession". Thus, "instead of two stages, there is only one stage for accession", Denkov pointed out.

The third decision entailed determined, substantial, both economic and military assistance to Ukraine, Denkov noted.

Another ongoing process is the presentation of a G7 declaration, which provides an opportunity and a basis for a common approach, in which each of the countries can cooperate with Ukraine on the basis of bilateral treaties. Absolutely unanimously Ukraine has full support from the member states in the union, the prime minister said.

Denkov said that the second package of military assistance from Bulgaria to Ukraine is already in preparation and is similar in size and content to the first one. "It is very important that this aid arrives on time. It is tailored to what Ukraine needs [...] The principle is this: they give a list of what they are interested in, we look at what is needed for our army and from what is left we can send accordingly ammunition or some other technical means they need," Denkov said.