NATO appoints special representative in Ukraine

Jens Stoltenberg, NATO Secretary General, has announced the appointment of Patrick Turner as a Senior Representative of NATO in Ukraine.

Patrick Turner will start performing his duties in Kyiv in September 2024. As a senior representative he will lead the NATO Representation to Ukraine, "act as a focal point for NATO’s engagement with the Ukrainian authorities in Kyiv" and "coordinate NATO’s efforts and provide the Alliance with assessments and advice on the situation in Ukraine".

Before his appointment, Turner worked as a NATO Assistant Secretary General for Operations and as Assistant Secretary General for Defence Policy and Planning, as well as in a range of senior civil service positions for the United Kingdom.

"I am truly honoured to have been appointed as NATO's Senior Representative in Ukraine. I look forward to leading the NATO Representation and to working very closely with the Ukrainian authorities and with NATO Allies and partners to help deliver NATO support to Ukraine," Turner commented.

The NATO Summit in Washington on 9-11 July adopted the decision to expand NATO presence in Ukraine, specifically by appointing a special representative in Kyiv.

At the summit, NATO also agreed to create a new structure to coordinate all types of assistance to Ukraine in the long term, called NATO Security Assistance and Training for Ukraine (NSATU).

The Ukrainian President's Office is generally pleased with the outcome of the Washington NATO Summit.