Ukraine's MFA responds to ex-army chief's controversial NATO remarks
Photo: Valerii Zaluzhnyi, Ukraine's ambassador to the United Kingdom (Getty Images)
"In the full quote, he was primarily referring to the JEF (Joint Expeditionary Force), not NATO. That is logical, as the UK is the framework nation and leader of the JEF. As for NATO accession, that track is handled by Ukraine's Mission to NATO," Tykhyi stressed.
He noted that Ukraine's course toward NATO membership remains unchanged. No effective alternative system of collective security currently exists.
"We are convinced that there is no alternative to Ukraine's NATO membership if allies seek to ensure guaranteed security and peace in the Euro-Atlantic area," Tykhyi said.
He also recalled that Europe's security architecture is impossible without Ukraine. At the same time, the final declaration of the NATO summit in Ankara emphasized that Ukraine has been recognized as a "contributor to Euro-Atlantic security."
What Zaluzhnyi said
Earlier, Ukraine's ambassador to the United Kingdom, Valerii Zaluzhnyi, said during a joint meeting of Ukrainian ambassadors in Kyiv that Ukraine would never become part of NATO. He made the remark in response to a question about Ukraine's participation in the JEF.
He also criticized the Alliance, saying member states would need at least another 12 years to transition to standards that would allow them to reach Russia's current level.
The former commander-in-chief further suggested that Ukraine could become part of other blocs and alliances in the future. In his view, this could take the form of a military alliance of European countries.
