Today at 17:05
Photo Mykola Lazarenko
Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko congratulated NATO on the 70th anniversary of its establishment.
“Over the years, the Alliance has proven that it is about peace, stability and human dignity. Over the years, the Alliance has also proven to be the strongest and most effective team of like-minded people – no member of the Alliance has ever been threatened by anyone,” Poroshenko said on his Facebook page.
“Ukraine highly appreciates the solidarity of the North Atlantic Alliance and its continued support for our state in the face of Russian aggression. Today, when the Russian aggressor cynically and blatantly violates norms and rules established in the world, the movement to NATO remains a non-alternative direction for Ukraine, its protection and preservation of territorial integrity,” he added.
Poroshenko said that Ukraine remained a reliable partner of NATO in building a common and secure future. According to him, all these years, Ukraine has been confidently paving its way to the North Atlantic Alliance with the creation of a new Ukrainian army, respected in the region and in the world.
“Today, we are actually the eastern flank of the Alliance. In terms of weapons, experience and standards. Today, we are ready to undertake the long-awaited commitments and start implementing the NATO Membership Action Plan,” Poroshenko emphasized.
“I believe that the London Summit of NATO is just the opportunity when allies will properly assess Ukraine’s contribution to the defense of the Euro-Atlantic community and begin a practical debate on giving our country the MAP. With faith in that today, I am signing the next Annual National Program for the Enhancement of Partnership between Ukraine and NATO,” he added.
“We are not planning to stop. We will move confidently further. There are no alternatives to the EU and NATO for Ukraine.”
With the amendments to the Ukrainian constitution passed last year, Ukraine is required to continue to seek membership in both NATO and the European Union, regardless of who win the presidential run-off between Poroshenko and Zelensky on April 21, 2019.
