The issues to be tackled at the NATO Summit in Wales in September were discussed by the NATO member-states’ defense ministers during their meeting in Brussels.

Hellenic Defence Minister Dimitris Avramopoulos stated that the alliance is in favour of a political solution in Ukraine, while it supports the country’s territorial integrity and preservation of its unity, as well as the need to avoid partition and likely secessionist tendencies.

He reiterated that tension and violence should deescalate and that the solution to the Ukrainian crisis should be peaceful, through political and diplomatic means in cooperation with the international community and competent international organizations.

The NATO ministers also discussed ways to reinforce the alliance’s cohesion and its commitment on deterrence and collective defense against all threats. Avramopoulos underlined the need for a pragmatic approach and adherence to the alliance’s fundamental principles in compliance with international law and existing agreements and treaties.

They also discussed joint military training issues, maritime strategy, cyber-defense policy and the alliance’s reorganization.

On the sidelines of the meeting, Mr. Avramopoulos met with his counterparts from Albania and Germany, Mimi Kodheli and Ursula von der Leyen respectively. He also attended meetings with NATO SecGen Anders Fogh Rasmussen, US Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel and Bulgarian Deputy Defence Minister Ivan Vasilev Ivanov.