Experts from NATO and Ukraine took stock of progress made on several projects and agreed on new areas of cooperation.

According to a release, the agreed upon cooperation included the reintegration of female military personnel into civilian life. This was the subject of discussion at the 16th edition of the NATO-Ukraine Joint Working Group on Scientific and Environmental Cooperation, held at NATO Headquarters on the 28th of March 2019.

Since the annexation of Crimea by Russia in 2014 and the beginning of the Russia-Ukraine conflict, over 12,000 scientists and academic experts have been displaced from their residence say the Alliance. In the face of these challenges, NATO’s Science for Peace and Security Programme significantly increased its support to Ukraine by providing equipment and stipends to young scientists.

Prof. Maksim Strikha, Ukrainian Deputy Minister for Education and Science explained in a news release:

“By engaging Ukrainian scientists in high-level research and capacity-building activities, the SPS Programme has actively supported research and academic institutions in Ukraine, strengthening the Ukrainian scientific landscape.”

Over 33 activities with Ukraine are ongoing, which makes the country the biggest beneficiary of NATO’s SPS Programme.  

“One of the current flagship projects is called ‘Dexter,” said Dr Deniz Yüksel-Beten, Senior SPS and Partnerships Cooperation Advisor at NATO.

“It aims to develop a system to detect explosives and firearms in public spaces, remotely and in real time, without disrupting the flow of passengers,” she added.

Furthermore, in the framework of the NATO-Ukraine Platform on Countering Hybrid Warfare, the SPS Programme assists a joint initiative from Ukraine and Lithuania to develop an early warning system to counter hybrid threats. An event will take place in Vilnius in April 2019 to make recommendations and provide a way ahead.

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George has a degree in Cyber Security from Glasgow Caledonian University and has a keen interest in naval and cyber security matters and has appeared on national radio and television to discuss current events. George is on Twitter at @geoallison
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Daniele Mandelli
Daniele Mandelli
4 years ago

Why not just join NATO and let the fireworks start?

Airborne
Airborne
4 years ago

Are we, NATO, helping Ukraine or using them to bait the bear and piss Russia off? Shit will roll downhill in quite a fashion when Ukraine eventually declares a date it intends to aim for in joining NATO.

Daniele Mandelli
Daniele Mandelli
4 years ago
Reply to  Airborne

I often think it is a bit of both if I’m honest mate.

Glass Half Full
Glass Half Full
4 years ago
Reply to  Airborne

I doubt Ukraine would unilaterally declare a date for joining, they might well express a general desire to do so though, and might declare a date if NATO had previously agreed to it. That said, having Ukraine, or Georgia come to that, join NATO might be provoking and its perhaps more useful for NATO to keep the relationships ambiguous for all concerned, thus avoiding any reason for fireworks 😉 However, we shouldn’t yield to Russia to dictate our behaviour or relationships in what they might term as their “sphere of influence” because that, in effect, is ceding that Russia has… Read more »

Daniele Mandelli
Daniele Mandelli
4 years ago

Exactly. Because they and NATO know full well Russia’s reaction.

So It IS provoking!

Would one sleep outside the grumpy old bears cave or climb safely up into the trees?

The saying – “Keep your friends close and your enemies closer” springs to mind.
Buying a house next to your potential enemy is not a good idea. Some space in between is wise.

Ulya
Ulya
4 years ago

Good afternoon gentlemen, from memory, a country cannot join NATO while in a civil war? And the war will not end until there is some sort of settlement to the Donbass question, not from Russia’s perspective, but from the people of Donbass, I know I have gone on about this before, but until they get a voice in their own future nothing will change

SoleSurvivor
SoleSurvivor
4 years ago
Reply to  Ulya

Did you know Ulya that Donetsk in the Donbass region was founded by a welshman called John Hughes, the layout of the city is still very British, he set up a coal factory there and did lots of business while inside imperial Russia, thousands of welsh migrants went there to work.

There was a film e-premiered in Cardiff recently during the John Hughes arts festival (which celebrated his life and work as its 205 years since his birth) it was called “Donbass borderland” you should watch it if you havnt already.

Ulya
Ulya
4 years ago
Reply to  SoleSurvivor

Hello Sole, I didn’t know that, I will see if I can find that movie. Thank you, I hope you have a good weekend

dave12
dave12
4 years ago
Reply to  Ulya

lol! More pro Putinism from Ulya ,but you must try for the good of the motherland I suppose . Its a civil war instigated by Putin and the military he provides to support a small minority, I seem to remember hitler invaded Czechoslovakia with that same excuse.

SoleSurvivor
SoleSurvivor
4 years ago
Reply to  dave12

A serious question Dave

Do you know when Britain stepped in and partitioned Ireland a century ago, because a small minority of ethnic British in the north wanted to remain British, they feared for their future and we stepped in to help.

Do you think that was the wrong or right thing to do?

dave12
dave12
4 years ago
Reply to  SoleSurvivor

Interesting point sole but uk army was sent in to protect the catholics at first who were the actual minority in northern ireland at the time and as far as I remember we didnt roll in tanks,use artillery, or air strikes and try and flatten the place and I could say the same point with Chechnya if you want to compare nothern Ireland with everything russian. Northern ireland troubles in the end came to a sort of peaceful conclusion thanks to both sides and of course the SAS scaring the sh#t out of the IRA.

SoleSurvivor
SoleSurvivor
4 years ago
Reply to  dave12

I think you’re talking about the troubles Dave, which happened 80 years after the partition of Ireland.

dave12
dave12
4 years ago
Reply to  SoleSurvivor

Good point sole my mistake i was multi tasking at the time, but give me a Nation that was a saint 80 years ago, this is the 21st century and in my opinion Russia as usual are behind a century with putins ideals and in the 20th century northern ireland is a good example on how to deal with these issues and not do some of the Russian examples i have mentioned above was chechnya any different? and that was quite recent.

Ulya
Ulya
4 years ago
Reply to  dave12

Dave, It is the 21st century, just looking at Western actions over the last 25 years, my life time, I don’t think you are in a position to lecture on morality. I take it you don’t think the people of Donbass have any right to decide their own future? So what is the solution Dave?

dave12
dave12
4 years ago
Reply to  Ulya

morality???lol Considering not too long a go ulya the kremlin built a wall around berlin shooting people who tried to escape from kremlin occupied nations to the west.When NATO was fighting al qaeda, Russia was flattening chechnya at the beginning of the 21st century who wanted freedom,your GRU agents dumped novichoks in a public park ,I dont need a talk about morality from a pro putin Russian, lol. Solution uyla is very simple Putin should leave the ukraine alone and let it make up its own future and who can tell what the donbass people really want passed putins propaganda… Read more »

Ulya
Ulya
4 years ago
Reply to  dave12

Going back to the Berlin Wall Dave? I’m not going to defend the communists, they deported and shot my people, tried to crush my language and culture, but that was in my grandparents life time, in mine time the government actually funds projects to support and encourage it. Chehnya, I’m all in favour of giving them full Independence, 80% of the regional governments money comes from Russia, I’m happy to spend that elsewhere, if they do more terrorist attacks in Russia then we will just kill them again. You mentioned fighting al qaeda, your government had no issues supporting them… Read more »

dave12
dave12
4 years ago
Reply to  Ulya

Good point ulya We can just go on and on about each others atrocities im sure, but as you mentioned terreorist acts from chechnya comes with the whole nation flattend by Russia ,comparing that with northern ireland the the uk comes out better in its results. Putin for all his huff and puff trying to get back russia as a super power is a lost cause and there should be no casualties in the process. But your putin Russia has crossed the line with me with the novichoks attack and Im sorry but your pittyful evidence to defend the GRU… Read more »

Ulya
Ulya
4 years ago
Reply to  dave12

When it comes to novichok Dave I am in full agreement with you about crossing the line, I have no issues killing the traitor, I could of put a knife in his neck last time I was in the UK and be on a flight home a few hours later. Where you and I different is evidence, I read your media, I read mine, every article I have seen makes more questions than it answers for me and I don’t trust either side to be honest, so to me the only logical way forward is a formal legal case, both… Read more »

dave12
dave12
4 years ago
Reply to  Ulya

Ulya I know your agenda and your last comment I think has proven my point in a some what a disturbing way.

Ulya
Ulya
4 years ago
Reply to  dave12

Good evening Dave, you have a suspicious mind, you are right, I do have a agenda, but the UK has no part in it at all. Let’s be honest, there is very little trade between our countries, your sanctions mean nothing, your only real threat to Russia is your nukes, using them is self defeating and we don’t have a good relationship, to be frank it is completely irrelevant if we ever have a good relationship. The EU is important to us for trade and they are starting to push back on the Americans various policies so that is interesting… Read more »

Rokuth
Rokuth
4 years ago
Reply to  Ulya

Ulya, Just out of curiosity, I read some of your earlier comments, where you mention that you hated the Communists because of what they did to your people. Who are your people? You also said something pretty damning: “When it comes to novichok Dave I am in full agreement with you about crossing the line, I have no issues killing the traitor, I could of put a knife in his neck last time I was in the UK and be on a flight home a few hours later.” If the feeling that the Skripals were traitors to Russia is a… Read more »

Ulya
Ulya
4 years ago
Reply to  Rokuth

Hi Rokuth, I’m Tatar. I have no sympathy or compassion for traitors, Russian law is much more forgiving than tribal law for those who follow the old ways. Just to be clear, I’m am not denying that Russia might be involved, I don’t know that answer, I am just not prepared to accept your government or media word on it, call me odd but I don’t care about trial by media, take it to court. Novichok was developed by a team of scientist, at least 1 has lived in the US for about 20 years, I cannot remember his name… Read more »

Rokuth
Rokuth
4 years ago
Reply to  Ulya

Hi Ulya, Appreciate the response and for engaging. BTW, I myself am a Malaysian of Sri Lankan Tamil descent. I know what it’s like to be a minority in a country. Not to mention having my people in the country of my origin be in a brutal civil war. I did live in the USA for 30 years. I saw how the country changed after the attack on the Twin Towers in NYC NY. It became more… “restrictive” and “paranoid.” When I returned to Malaysia after my time in America, I found my country changed too. It was no longer… Read more »

Ulya
Ulya
4 years ago
Reply to  Rokuth

Good morning Rokuth, I will start by apologising, I assumed you came from the UK in my reply. I would be interested to hear more how Malaysia has changed for you, my partner and I went there and Singapore about 4 years ago for holiday and really enjoyed ourselves and also more on America, I must confess my direct contact with them has been restricted to my work in Iran and the ME so is not positive. I hope you do get to the UK, I have been to London a few times, the history is interesting but I am… Read more »

Rokuth
Rokuth
4 years ago
Reply to  Ulya

Hi Ulya, No need to apologize. I’m one of those strange people who grew up speaking English at home and living in an English speaking country for years. I’ve been back in Malaysia for at least a decade, and people still think I’m a foreigner… Then again, after living in the US for all that time, I am more American in my opinions, attitudes, and expressions than I am Malaysian. I do plan to visit the UK , NZ and Australia one of these days. I have many close relatives living in the CANZUK countries that I can go visit… Read more »

dave12
dave12
4 years ago

Some of the new equipment i’ve seen the ukraine arms forces have produced on their own, against the Russian threat, look really innovative considering their budget , good for them.

Daniele Mandelli
Daniele Mandelli
4 years ago
Reply to  dave12

Really Dave?

I’m not up on Ukranian equipment, thought it was all Soviet era types?

Ulya
Ulya
4 years ago

Based on Soviet design Daniele, T84 based on T80 etc, most for export I believe, and there is new AshM, can’t remember name, based on old Soviet model

Daniele Mandelli
Daniele Mandelli
4 years ago
Reply to  Ulya

Thank you Ulya, sorry for late reply.

Elliott
Elliott
4 years ago

Also some new ATGMs and the new unmanned turret Cockerill is advertising was developed there. The issue is Ukraine cannot afford their own weapons. For example the latest model of the T-84 Opolt-M is a capable tank just like the later model Russian T-90s are. The problem is they have only 10 and have been saying for years they would build more but haven’t. The real issue is lack of will, any increase in Ukrainian defense expenditures gets stolen before reaches the front line. Ukraine is in all likelihood about to elect a comedian who played president on a tv… Read more »

dave12
dave12
4 years ago

I saw some footage of what they are trying to do with UAV drones and unmanned vehicles on a budget also the upgrades on there soviet equipment impressed me with what have to work with.