Strengthening cooperation with Georgia and Ukraine will be a discussion issue in the process of preparation for the NATO Madrid Summit next year, NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg stated at a press conference following the meeting with Allied National Security Advisers of the North Atlantic Council.

According to the NATO chief, he does not know what decision the leaders of the NATO member states would make at the summit over Georgia’s and Ukraine’s Euro-Atlantic integration aspiration, though.

“I think it’s a bit early to project what kind of decisions the leaders will make at the summit next year. I am absolutely confident that the allies will continue to stand by what they have stated before. That is that we fully support the territorial integrity and sovereignty of both partners- Georgia and Ukraine. We also stand by our decisions when it comes to their aspirations to join NATO. And we will continue to provide practical and political support so that they come towards the Euro-Atlantic integration. I welcome the fact that the NATO allies, both within the NATO framework and, also, bilaterally, provide support and help both Ukraine and Georgia,” NATO Secretary-General said.