NATO announced the appointment of Patrick Turner as its first Senior Representative to the country. Turner, a British national with extensive experience in NATO's leadership, will take up his position in Kyiv this September.
This new position was established following the NATO Washington Summit on 9-11 July, as part of a series of measures to deepen NATO's organizational support for Ukraine. Other initiatives include:
- Creation of a structure to coordinate military aid (NSATU)
- A commitment to provide a minimum of €40 billion in aid to Kyiv over the next year, distributed among member countries
- Establishment of a joint competence center (JATEC) with Ukraine.
As the Alliance's point person in Kyiv, Turner will wear multiple hats. He'll lead NATO's in-country representation, serve as the primary liaison with Ukrainian authorities, and provide crucial on-the-ground assessments to inform NATO's decision-making processes.
He previously served as 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.
Read more:
- Summit in Washington: Ukraine's NATO dream deferred, but not dead
- Zelenskyy: Security guarantees boost Ukraine's defenses but NATO membership remains the goal
- NATO to expand its presence in Ukraine: prepare it for accession
