Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Mykhailo Drapaty has held his first conversation with the Chairman of the NATO Military Committee, Admiral Giuseppe Cavo Dragone. Following the discussion, it was revealed that a delegation from the North Atlantic Alliance's Military Committee will visit Ukraine in October — for the first time in eight years. This was reported by RBK-Ukraine citing Drapaty himself, and the information has been confirmed by other Ukrainian media outlets.
First contact at the highest military level
Drapaty thanked the Admiral for his personal stance and consistent support of Ukraine at the level of NATO's top military leadership. According to the Supreme Commander, Cavo Dragone has already visited Ukraine three times and has personally witnessed the situation on the ground, which, in Drapaty's assessment, "is felt in the conversation." This indicates that the dialogue between the military leadership of Kyiv and Brussels goes beyond formal statements and is built on a practical understanding of the situation at the front.
Ukrainian army priorities in talks with NATO
During the conversation, Drapaty informed the head of the NATO Military Committee about the situation at the front and outlined the key priorities of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. These include the development of long-range strike capabilities, the implementation of flexible infantry tactics, the robotization of the frontline, and the strengthening of air defense. These areas essentially define the Ukrainian army's requests to its allies and form the agenda for the upcoming visit of the alliance delegation.
NATO Military Committee visit: what it means
It is expected that the NATO Military Committee will visit Ukraine in October. The last such visit took place eight years ago, making the upcoming trip a symbolically significant event for the relations between Kyiv and the North Atlantic alliance. The arrival of the alliance's highest military body on the territory of a country at war can be seen as a signal of political and military solidarity, as well as a platform for discussing further support and the integration of Ukrainian military standards.
Ukraine as a source of combat experience for the Alliance
Drapaty emphasized that Ukraine not only receives support from NATO but also contributes to the security of the alliance itself. "We are passing on combat experience that no one else has today, and it works for the security of the entire Alliance," the Supreme Commander stated. In an interview with RBK-Ukraine, Admiral Cavo Dragone highly appreciated the combat experience of Ukrainian military personnel, noting that the Armed Forces of Ukraine are involved in NATO exercises, where they act as the "red team" and have repeatedly demonstrated themselves as a serious opponent.
Assessment of credibility
The report about the visit of the NATO Military Committee in October and the first conversation between Drapaty and Cavo Dragone has been confirmed by several independent Ukrainian media outlets (RBK-Ukraine, Fakty, Telegraph, The Other Ukraine), which refer to the same statements by the Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. No discrepancies in dates, timing of the visit, or the list of discussed topics have been found between sources.
