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Feb15


NATO'S practical support to Ukraine


At the September 2014 Wales Summit, NATO Allies established a comprehensive and tailored package of measures so that Ukraine can better provide for its security. The package focused on four areas: rehabilitation for injured troops; cyber defence; logistics; and command and control and communications. They also agreed to assist Ukraine with the rehabilitation of injured military personnel. Since then, five Trust Funds have been established to address those five priorities and are today operational.

NATO-Ukraine Logistics and Standardization Trust Fund

Lead Nation(s): The Czech Republic, the Netherlands and Poland. The NATO Support Agency (NSPA) will act as the implementing body and will be responsible for the management of the Trust Fund.

Additional contributions (as of 23 January 2015): Denmark, Turkey.

Objective: to help reform Ukraine's logistic system and increase its interoperability with NATO, notably through the adoption of NATO standards for the tracking and management of national military equipment and supplies.

Duration: the project will run for an initial period of two years. It will culminate with the certification of Ukraine's logistic system.

NATO-Ukraine Command, Control, Communications and Computers (C4) Trust Fund

Lead Nations: Canada, Germany, United Kingdom. The NATO Communications and Information Agency (NCIA) will act as the Executing Agent and together with the Defense Investment Division and will be responsible for the management of the C4 Trust Fund.

Additional Contributing Nations (as of 23 January 2015): Denmark, Iceland, Latvia, Lithuania, Turkey.

Objective(s): The aim of the C4 Trust Fund is to help Ukraine modernize its C4 structures and capabilities, and facilitate their interoperability with NATO to enhance Ukraine's ability to provide for its own security and contribute to NATO-led exercises and operations. Based upon availability of funds and the priority areas for assistance to be identified through the Feasibility Study, practical assistance could include: assessment, introduction, and implementation of modern C4 architectural network; procurement of C4 equipment; acquisition of modern Communications and Information Services (CIS) and technologies; and the provision of associated CIS training.

Duration: The project will run for an initial period of two years.

NATO-Ukraine Cyber Defence Trust Fund

Lead Nation(s): Romania. Acting through a Romanian state-owned company with a rich experience in cyber defence (RASIROM R.A.), Romania is also responsible for the project's implementation as the Executing Agent.

Additional Contributions (as of 23 January 2015): Albania, Estonia, Hungary, Portugal, Turkey.

Objective(s): to help Ukraine develop technical capabilities to counter cyber threats. Based on availability of funds, assistance could include the establishment of an Incident Management Centre for the monitoring of cyber security events and the establishment of laboratories to investigate cyber security incidents. The project also provides for the training of personnel in the use of these technologies and equipment, as well as practical advice on policy development. Duration: up to 24 months.

NATO-Ukraine Military Career Management Trust Fund

Lead Nation(s): Norway. NATO's Political Affairs and Security Policy Division (PASP) will act as the executing body and will be responsible for the management of the fund.

Additional Contributions (as of 23 January 2015): Croatia, Greece, Luxembourg, Portugal, Turkey.

Objective(s): The project aims at assisting the Ukraine's Ministry of Defence with the development of a sustainable and effective resettlement programme for military personnel returning to civilian career. Assistance will be provided through expert advice on policy development and application of best practices from other NATO countries. The project builds up on other re-training activities, which are currently carried out by NATO and funded by the NATO Civil Budget.

Duration: The project will be carried out over a period of 3 years.

NATO-Ukraine Medical Rehabilitation Trust Fund

Lead Nation(s): Bulgaria. The NSPA will act as the executive agent.

Additional Contributions (as from 23 January 2015): Slovakia, Turkey.

Objective(s): This project aims at ensuring that injured Ukrainian servicemen and women have access to appropriate rehabilitation services and that the local Ukrainian medical centres are properly equipped to deliver those rehabilitation services. Based upon availability of funds, assistance could include the provision of direct medical support, physical and psychological therapy to the patients; the construction, renovation, refurbishment and equipping of Ukrainian facilities; and the delivery of vocational training to help further develop specialized medical staff.

Duration: the project will be carried out over a period of 24 months.

Since the beginning of the Russia-Ukraine crisis, other programmes of cooperation between NATO and Ukraine have been enhanced. As agreed at the April 2014 Foreign Ministers' meeting, these efforts were aimed at promoting defence reforms through capacity building and capability development programmes, and strengthening civilian control over the armed forces and related security sectors.

NATO Science for Peace and Security (SPS) Programme of cooperation with Ukraine

Since 17 December 2014, the NATO Science for Peace and Security (SPS) programme of cooperation with Ukraine includes 17 new projects, based on Ukrainian proposals, in a vast variety of areas such as radiation protection, nanotechnologies, Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) sensors, Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear (CBRN) agents, smart energy, as well as conflict management and near-shore zone protection.

Additionally, Allies have provided substantial new contributions to the Professional Development Programme which is supporting capacity building and reform efforts in Ukraine's security and defence institutions.

As a result of the suspension of SPS activities with Russia and the subsequent re-allocation of funding to cooperation with Ukraine, the budget for the SPS programme of cooperation with Ukraine reached 2.2 million EUR for 2014 alone, and is estimated to 10 million EUR for the 2014-2017 period, thereby making Ukraine the number one beneficiary of NATO SPS programme.

The Defence Education Enhancement Programme (DEEP) Ukraine

DEEP Ukraine started in 2013 for an initial period of 3-years. It is a tailored programme through which the Alliance advises on how to build, develop and reform educational institutions in the security, defence and military domain. Its two main tracks of assistance focus on: faculty (how to teach) and curriculum (what to teach) development for 8 key Ukrainian institutions in Kyiv, Lviv, Kharkiv, Odessa and Zhytomir.

Poland is the Lead Nation. Additional in-kind and/or financial contributions are provided by Canada, Czech Republic, Denmark, France, Germany, Hungary, Lithuania, Slovakia, United Kingdom, and United States.

In 2014, NATO appointed a special Advisor for military education reform who coordinates Allied assistance in this domain. As of 2015, assistance has been extended to Non-Commissioned Officers Corps.

It is the biggest DEEP programme ever with a partner country (in 2014, 40 events with more than 30 NATO experts and 150 Ukrainian faculty members, reaching an audience of almost 2000).

NATO's Building Integrity (BI) Programme with Ukraine.

Since its inception in 2007, NATO and Allies have been assisting Ukraine, through the BI Programme, in strengthening integrity, transparency and accountability in its defence and security sector and reduce the risk of corruption.

In 2014, the participation of Ukrainian civil servants and military officers in BI education and training activities has tripled. In 2015-2017, this assistance will continue and include specific educational tailored BI programme focusing on raising awareness on corruption as a security threat and on strengthening the management of financial and human resources.

Moreover, NATO and BI Lead Nations led and participated in different meetings including in Kyiv with defence attachés, representatives of local embassies and international organizations to exchange on assistance offered, align efforts and avoid any duplication of activities.

Public Diplomacy, Strategic Communications

NATO provides advisory and funding support to Ukraine on public diplomacy, media relations and strategic communications to the Ukrainian authorities and capacity to counter the Russian propaganda.

In particular, since 2014, NATO has been supporting the Ukraine Crisis Media Centre and the Kyiv Post in generating factual stories from the occupied Crimea peninsula as well as from Eastern Ukraine. As agreed at the April 2014 Foreign Ministers meeting, NATO's Liaison Office in Kyiv was also reinforced with 7 additional national experts. NATO has been regularly training Ukrainian government officials and civil society activists in communications disciplines, including strategic communications and public affairs.

NATO's Air Situation Data Exchange (ASDE) - Cooperation with Ukraine

Ukraine joined the NATO Air Situation Data Exchange (ASDE) programme in July 2006. This programme aims to reduce airspace conflicts in two ways: by minimizing potential cross-border incidents along common borders and optimizing responses to terrorist attacks using civil airplanes. It is carried out through the exchange of filtered air situation information, thereby enhancing mutual awareness and transparency about what is going on in the respective airspace. The programme also provides Ukraine with insight into NATO procedures and offers valuable training experience.

Following the formal approval process and implementation activities, the first connection between NATO and Ukraine, via Hungary, has been operational since December 2008. A second connection, via Turkey, has been operational since mid 2011.

Following the Russia-Ukraine crisis, and at the request of Ukraine, air data information provided by NATO has been extended to cover a larger area.

NATO's Professional Development Programme (PDP) with Ukraine

Launched in 2005, NATO's Professional Development Programme with Ukraine helps enhance the professional skills of key civilian officials in order to strengthen capacity for effective democratic management. In 2014, the budget allocated to the PDP Ukraine doubled, with contributions from the United Kingdom (Lead Nation), and Denmark. Additional contributions include Germany's provision of experts and Turkey's hosting of training and education activities. Activities focused on National Guard reform, critical infrastructure protection, and strategic communications.

[Source: Nato, Public diplomacy division, Brussels, February 2015]

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