Stoltenberg Promises Ukraine NATO Membership

Ukraine will join NATO, stated NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg in an interview with 1+1 TV channel. According to him, all the allies agreed that Ukraine would join the alliance. Stoltenberg also recalled that Montenegro joined NATO only two years ago, North Macedonia will join the alliance in a few months. In addition he said that no one could have imagined before that Poland or the Baltic countries would join NATO one day. Stoltenberg also promised that NATO would help Ukraine strengthen reforms and modernize society so that the country could join the alliance. The Secretary General also said that for the full NATO membership for Ukraine it is necessary to think what the country can do together with the Alliance. NATO – Ukraine Commission meeting took place October 31. The parties discussed the situation in southeastern Ukraine, the presidential election, the exchange of prisoners with Moscow, and condemned the reunification of Crimea with Russia. The Alliance promised to support Kyiv. NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg emphasized that on the issue of Ukraine’s joining the alliance, “Russia doesn’t have a say.” In 2014, the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine amended the law and abandoned non-aligned status. Two years later, in the country’s constitution, accession to NATO and the EU were enshrined as the main goals of foreign policy. Kyiv should ensure full compatibility of its armed forces with the forces of NATO countries by 2020. However, the alliance does not have a single position on Ukraine’s joining. So, on October 29, Hungary imposed a veto on the joint declaration of NATO ambassadors for Ukraine. Kyiv also admits that Ukraine is not ready to join the alliance. iz.ru