OREANDA-NEWS. Ukraine is interested in cooperating with NATO to "restore stability and security" in the Black Sea region. This was stated by President of Ukraine Vladimir Zelensky at the opening of the meeting of the Ukraine-NATO Commission.

"We are also interested in cooperation to restore stability and security in the Black Sea region. We expect support for Ukraine’s proposal regarding practical steps to implement the NATO Black Sea package, approved in April this year", he said. Zelensky emphasized the need to jointly strengthen the capabilities of the Ukrainian Navy in this "region that is important for Kiev".

Zelensky proposed a substantive review of Ukraine’s accession to the NATO empowerment program. He expressed confidence that Kiev is ready to move to this new level of interaction between the parties. NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said at a briefing in Odessa on Wednesday that the Black Sea region is of great strategic importance to NATO, and the alliance is increasing its presence in it.

On Tuesday, the Ukrainian Defense Ministry reported that a group of four NATO ships arrived in Odessa. These are mine sweepers ESPS Sella (Spain), Ros Lupu Dinescu (Romania), BGS Shkval (Bulgaria) and ITS Numana (Italy). Ships will be in the Odessa port for a week. Zelensky also said that Ukraine is interested in deepening cooperation with NATO to increase its defense capabilities.