Rishi Sunak meeting with Vladimir Zelensky on the eve of the European Political Community summit in Moldova Photo: Simon Walker/10 Downing Street
Rishi Sunak said that Ukraine's «rightful place» is in NATO, since Hungary insisted that the issue of Kiev's entry into the alliance could not be discussed at the next summit of the alliance.
The Prime Minister fully supported the application of the country experiencing difficulties, the entry of a military pact at a major meeting of European leaders in Moldova.
Vladimir Zelensky said that his nation is «ready» and «waiting» for adoption. The President of Ukraine called for a «clear» decision on the future of Kyiv in NATO at the July meeting in Lithuania.
But Hungary insists that the entry of a country currently at war «cannot be on the agenda.»< /p>
In 2008, an international alliance agreed that Ukraine would eventually be allowed to join.
However, the leaders have so far not taken steps that could set a timetable for Kiev's approach to the pact.
If Ukraine is allowed to join the bloc, any attack by Russia will require a collective military response in accordance with Article 5 of the NATO treaty.
Péter Szijjártó, Hungarian Foreign Minister, wrote on Facebook: «We must be clear: the entry into NATO of a country that is now at war cannot be on the agenda.»
Time for «decisions» on Kiev in NATO
Speech at the second meeting of the European Political Community (EPC) on Thursday, Mr. Sunak said that «Ukraine's rightful place is in NATO.»
But he did not name the timing of Kiev's entry into the alliance.
He said he was «proud» of the UK's support, adding: «We want to make sure we put the safety measures in place. for Ukraine in the long run, so we are sending a very strong signal to Vladimir Putin that we are not going anywhere, we are here to stay and we will continue to support Ukraine – not only now, but for years to come.”
< p>Mr Zelensky said this year is a time «to make decisions» about Kiev's future in NATO, warning that «every doubt we show in Europe is a trench that Russia will try to occupy.»
He posted on Twitter. : «In the summer — in Vilnius, at the NATO summit — we need a clear invitation to Ukraine for membership, we need security guarantees on the way to NATO membership.»
I am always glad to communicate with a true friend of Ukraine, British Prime Minister @RishiSunak, because these are always very meaningful meetings with a powerful result for our common security!
Today I noted recent transfer of Storm Shadow long-range missiles on 🇺🇦.… pic.twitter.com/06rEN8YTEz
— Volodymyr Zelensky (@ZelenskyyUa) June 1, 2023
Comes as Ekaterina Colonna, French Foreign Minister said NATO should consider what security guarantees it can offer Kiev before making any firm commitments to join.
“I must recall the simple principle of international law, which is that all sovereign states have the right to freely choose their alliances,” she said.
French President Emmanuel Macron also said the West should offer Ukraine «tangible and credible» security guarantees, somewhere between an Israeli-style deal and full NATO membership.
Diplomats say the proposals being discussed range from guarantees for the supply of arms to allow Ukraine to defend itself, to secure commitments to help it fight.
US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken said Washington is focused on building Kiev's capacity «so that, if and when current aggression ceases, Ukraine is well positioned to deter and, if necessary, protect against future aggression.»
But d Mr. Zelensky was adamant that joining NATO was the only guarantee of his country's security.
“Ukraine is ready to be in NATO. We are waiting for NATO to be ready to accept Ukraine,” he said.
“Recently, a Chinese journalist asked me why NATO?” and the answer is very simple.
«When there are no security guarantees, there are only military guarantees.»
“We need a just world. That is why every European country that borders on Russia and does not want Russia to tear them apart should be a full member of the EU and NATO.
“And there are only two alternatives to this: either open war or creeping Russian occupation” .
ukraine pod 01 06 23
Lt. Gen. Ben Hodges, former commander of the US Army in Europe, said that Europe would be safer if Ukraine was in an alliance.
“Russia will not attack to Ukraine when it joins NATO,” he told the BBC.
Olaf Scholz, the German chancellor, said on Thursday that Ukraine and its allies are still “very far” from being able to secure peace in the country.
However, he added that any future Western security guarantees to Ukraine should be different from the status of European NATO members.
“Considering the current situation, it is not about membership,” — he said at a press conference at the EPC meeting in Moldova.
“We all need to focus on how we, as individuals, can support Ukraine.”
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