NATO Ministers To Discuss Ukrainian, Georgian Defense Reforms

BRUSSELS -- A senior NATO official says alliance defense chiefs will meet on June 3-4 with defense officials from Ukraine and Georgia to discuss reforms in the two countries' militaries and the security implications of Russia's actions in Ukraine.

The NATO defense ministers will meet with Georgian Defense Minister Irakli Alasania and Ukraine's acting Defense Minister Mykhaylo Koval during the two-day summit in Brussels.

The NATO official told reporters on June 2 that the meeting with Koval will give alliance ministers the opportunity to discuss support for Kyiv and to urge "comprehensive" defense reform in Ukraine, whose Crimea territory was annexed by Russia in March.

The Ukrainian military is currently battling a pro-Russian separatist insurgency in the east of the country.

The ministers are also likely to discuss Georgia’s participation next year in the NATO Response Force.