On July 29, 2021, the Consul General of Ukraine in Naples Maksym Kovalenko held meetings with the Commander of the NATO Joint Command in Naples (JFC), the Commander of the US Navy in Europe and Africa, Admiral Robert Burke, and the Chief of Staff and Chief of Staff of the European Union of the Joint Command, Lieutenant General Ignazio Gamba (Italy).

The meetings were attended by Colonel of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Svetlana Pavlovska, ex-speaker and director of the Department of Strategic Communications of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine, which is now being part of the work of the JFC from our state. 

A round table was held with the commanders of NATO military bases in southern Italy, who highly appreciated the current level of military cooperation between the Alliance and Ukraine.

A wide range of issues of cooperation between the regional structures of NATO and Ukraine were discussed - Ukraine's participation in the Partnership with Enhanced Opportunities program and the significant contribution of the Ukrainian Armed Forces to NATO-led operations and missions. It was also noted that the main task that the Armed Forces of Ukraine are solving is to achieve military criteria for full membership in the Alliance. Admiral Burke praised the joint actions of collective defense and the participation of 32 partner states in the major exercises Sea Breeze 2021.