Ukrainian Parliament intends to establish committee on NATO matters, minister says
Ruslan Stefanchuk, Speaker of the Ukrainian Parliament (Photo: Getty Images)
The Ukrainian Parliament intends to establish a committee in the near future to discuss the adaptation of Ukrainian legislation to NATO standards, states Ruslan Stefanchuk, the head of the Ukrainian Parliament.
"As we approach the Washington Summit, I am initiating the creation of a committee on NATO. There is an idea to establish a separate committee that would take on all the functions of aligning Ukrainian legislation with NATO standards. If we want progress in NATO, we need individuals in parliament leading this topic," he states.
Stefanchuk added that Ukraine currently has two crucial foreign policy vectors connected to the European Union and the North Atlantic Alliance. He notes that EU matters are subject to discussion within a separate committee, while NATO "somehow does not receive such parliamentary attention."
"That's why I would very much like a committee to be established specifically addressing legislation related to NATO because we have significant challenges: the Washington Summit, where we should achieve a very favorable outcome for Ukraine. To achieve this, we need people institutionally engaged in these matters," explained the head of the Ukrainian Parliament.
Ukraine's NATO accession
On September 30, 2022, it was announced that Ukraine had applied for accelerated accession to NATO. Ukraine expected an invitation to join NATO during the summer summit in Vilnius, which did not materialize.
NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg emphasized that Ukraine would not be able to join the Alliance until active hostilities cease.
Ukraine received recommendations from NATO regarding its accession following the Ukraine-NATO Council meeting in Brussels on November 29. The recommendations pertain to the initial reforms necessary for joining the Alliance.
