NATO would sooner cease to exist than Ukraine would join the alliance. This opinion was expressed by Valery Ivasyuk, ex-adviser to former Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko.
“I am deeply convinced that as long as Russia will exist in the formula, the format in which it exists now, NATO will sooner cease to exist than Ukraine will be a member of the alliance, this is true,” he stressed on the Nash TV channel.
At the same time, Ivasyuk wondered why the course of joining NATO was fixed in the constitution of Ukraine. In his opinion, such a situation has one purpose, which is a warning.
“There is only one function, and it is very important – so that God forbid any coming power, president or the Verkhovna Rada would not be tempted to turn to the East,” the ex-adviser added.
On December 31, Dmitry Belik, a member of the State Duma’s international affairs committee, said that the West was transforming Ukraine into a quasi-member of NATO, thus undermining Russia’s security. According to the deputy, the West uses Ukraine as a “springboard for geopolitical and military pressure” on the Russian Federation.
On the same day, Konstantin Zatulin, First Deputy Head of the State Duma Committee on CIS Affairs, Eurasian Integration and Relations with Compatriots, pointed out that NATO had already “entered” Ukraine – consultants, military personnel appeared in the country, and various alliance bases were being created.
On December 24, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov stressed that the course of drawing Ukraine into NATO and the appearance of missiles at the Russian borders provokes serious military risks. According to the Russian minister, this is a large-scale conflict in Europe.
On December 8, Russian President Vladimir Putin announced that after admission to NATO, weapons threatening Russia could be deployed in Ukraine. The head of state also expressed the hope that “all concerns about NATO expansion” will be heard.
In February 2019, the Verkhovna Rada adopted amendments to the constitution, securing Ukraine’s course in the EU and NATO. Ukraine became the sixth state to receive the status of a partner of the Enhanced Opportunity Alliance.
Source: IZ
Jane Stock is a technology author, who has written for 24 Hours World. She writes about the latest in technology news and trends, and is always on the lookout for new and innovative ways to improve his audience’s experience.
