NATO declares Ukraine's irreversible path to membership

NATO will extend an invitation to Ukraine to join the Alliance when the allies agree and Kyiv fulfills all the necessary conditions.

This was reported by RBC-Ukraine with reference to a joint statement following the NATO summit.

"We reaffirm that we will be able to extend an invitation to Ukraine to join the Alliance when the Allies agree and the conditions are met," the statement said.

In addition, Allied leaders noted that Ukraine's future is in NATO and they support Ukraine's right to choose its own security arrangements and decide its own future without external interference.

"Ukraine is becoming increasingly operationally and politically integrated with the Alliance. We welcome the concrete progress that Ukraine has made since the Vilnius Summit on the necessary democratic, economic, and security reforms. As Ukraine continues this vital work, we will continue to support it on its irreversible path to full Euro-Atlantic integration, including NATO membership," the statement said.

The Alliance added that the decisions taken by NATO and the NATO-Ukraine Council at the Summit, combined with the ongoing work of Allies, are a bridge to Ukraine's membership.

"Allies will continue to support Ukraine's progress in interoperability, as well as additional democratic and security sector reforms, which NATO Foreign Ministers will continue to assess through the adapted Annual National Program," the statement said.

Author - Serhii Kolomiets, 11/07/2024