We are stepping up our practical and political support to Georgia, – NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg announced at a press conference on Wednesday, after the meeting of NATO Foreign Ministers.

“At the second session today we were joined by the Ministers of Foreign Affairs of Georgia and Ukraine. We discussed the Black Sea security situation in the region, which is of strategic importance.

Russia continues to violate the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Georgia and Ukraine. It continues its military build-up in Crimea and increases its military forces in the Black Sea region.

NATO is responding by strengthening its presence on the land, at sea and in the air.

Just last week, NATO aircraft trained together with the US navy destroyer – the USS Donald Cook – in the Black Sea.

eorgia and Ukraine are valued NATO partners. Who make important contributions to our missions. Today, we restated our support for the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Georgia and Ukraine. We discussed their reform programmes.  And we are stepping up our practical support. I am pleased that Allies and Georgia approved the updated Substantial NATO-Georgia Package.

Stepping up our political support. Ministers agreed further steps to improve our situational awareness in the region and strengthen our dialogue with both partners”, Jens Stoltenberg said.