Source · Select Committees · Defence Committee
Recommendation 16
16
Paragraph: 89
The UK and NATO should continue to maximise efforts to help Ukraine reform to meet...
Conclusion
The UK and NATO should continue to maximise efforts to help Ukraine reform to meet NATO standards and to become more interoperable with NATO and its equipment, for example through regular joint training exercises.
Paragraph Reference:
89
Government Response
Accepted
HM Government
Accepted
The Government agrees with the Committee’s recommendation. The Integrated Review and the Defence Command Paper reinforce our continued commitment to Euro-Atlantic security and to helping build Ukraine’s resilience to Russia’s aggressive tactics through capacity building of their Armed Forces, and security and Defence reforms. As a leading member of the Ukrainian Defence QUINT we are proactively working to ensure that Ukraine can make the most of its Enhanced Opportunities Partner (EOP) status and increase its interoperability with NATO and its equipment. To further Ukraine’s interoperability, the UK regularly participates in NATO and bilateral exercises with Ukraine, such as Exercise SEA BREEZE and Exercise COSSACK MACE. Operation ORBITAL, the UK’s enduring deployment to Ukraine, also facilitates training exercises between the UK and Ukraine while the Maritime Training Initiative provides opportunities to enhance interoperability between our maritime forces. To further Ukraine’s Defence reform, the UK provides a Special Defence Advisor (SDA), who is embedded in the Ukrainian MOD. The SDA facilitates an assistance programme focused on Defence reform and institution-building, as well as strategic communications, procurement and anti-corruption drives. The UK also supports Ukraine’s defence reform through its provision of a UK representative to the Ukraine Defence Reform Advisory Board (DRAB), currently former Vice Chief of the Defence Staff, General Sir Gordon Messenger.