21 Apr. 2005

Ukraine to support NATO’s Mediterranean anti-terrorist operation Events Programme of Informal Meeting of Foreign Ministers (IFM 2005) Vilnius, Lithuania 20-21 April 2005 Background NATO-Ukraine relations At a meeting of the NATO-Ukraine Commission in Vilnius on 21 April, the Ukrainian Foreign Minister signed with the NATO Secretary General an exchange of letters on Ukraine’s contribution to Operation Active Endeavour. The exchange of letters opens the way for Ukrainian support to the NATO-led operation, the Alliance’s first-ever operation under Article V, NATO’s mutual defence clause. Under Operation Active Endeavour NATO ships are patrolling the Mediterranean to detect, deter and protect against terror activity, and providing escorts to non-military shipping through the Straits of Gibraltar. Ukraine’s support to the operation may take many forms – intelligence cooperation, access to or assistance with specific military assets.