Foreign
UKRAINE wants to become a member of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) directly, rather than under the earlier accession plan that was formed before Russian troops invaded the country in February.
Only membership itself, through a direct route, is an option, Deputy Prime Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration Olha Stefanishyna told Ukrainska Pravda on Monday.
Ukraine has in effect adopted very many practices of the Western military alliance, she said.
She added that the country’s soldiers have unique combat experience lacked by soldiers from other NATO members.
Russia invaded Ukraine on Feb. 24, demanding that Ukraine have neutral status, and so abandon its 2019 constitutional goal of becoming a NATO member.
Potential members of the alliance usually have to follow an accession plan to bring their countries in line with NATO standards. (dpa/NAN)
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