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News > World

US Special Representative: Ukraine Not Ready to Join NATO; Needs to Undergo Reform

  • Volker says Ukraine can successfully apply reforms to solicit an invitation from NATO.

    Volker says Ukraine can successfully apply reforms to solicit an invitation from NATO. | Photo: AFP

Published 27 August 2017
Opinion

Volker cited Ukraine's abandonment of its nuclear arsenal as a positive move towards NATO inclusion.

In an interview on Sunday, U.S. Special Representative for Ukraine Negotiations, Kurt Volker, said the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) alliance is not ready to accept Ukraine as a member.

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According to Volker, Ukraine does not have a handle on security measures and, as a result, can not realistically consider NATO membership. In an interview, which aired on Saturday, the negotiations representative added that the country was not close to receiving an invitation from the organization either.

He explained that the Ukraine was an independent country and any decision to join NATO has to come from Kiev, without the influence or interference of Brussels, Washington and Moscow.

Volker added that he believes that the country can successfully apply the reforms required to solicit an invitation from NATO, though it is usually a tedious process.

He highlighted Ukraine's abandonment of its nuclear arsenal as a positive move towards the country being included.

On Thursday, U.S. Defense Secretary James Mattis had assured Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko that the United States was welcoming of and valued Ukraine's commitment to implementing a NATO-compliant reform in its defense sector.

Last month, Poroshenko signed a parliament-approved bill in a bid towards being considered for membership in the organization.

Volker claimed that Mattis had handed over certain defense equipment, for the armed forces, during a recent visit to Ukraine. But, during the joint briefing with Poroshenko, Mattis claimed the United States was considering supplying Ukraine with lethal weapons.

Sputnik Radio quoted Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov, earlier in August, saying that lethal arms would only serve to destabilize Ukraine.

Dmitry Peskov, a Kremlin spokesman, reiterated that weapons would not contribute to the peaceful resolution of the conflict between Kiev and the two self-styled republics in southeast Ukraine.

Both echoing the NATO Military Committee chairman, Gen. Petr Pavel, 2016 declaration that supplying weapons would amplify the suffering of Ukrainians.

Volker disclosed that the United States and the European Union shared a similar stance on the conflict in the region, adding that neither would acknowledge Crimea's reunification with Russia.

A June 2014 referendum revealed that over 90 percent of residents voted to join Russia, but Kiev rejected the vote.

According to special representative Volker, Ukrainian authorities could successfully restore its sovereignty by addressing certain security flaws and the future of residents in the east of the country, in addition to incubating a favorable business climate.

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