NATO has again confirmed future membership for Ukraine in the Alliance, noting strengthened political and practical support for Kyiv since illegal annexation of Crimea by Russia and events in Donbas.
This message was delivered in the annual report by NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, which was released on Thursday at NATO headquarters in Brussels.
The section, titled “NATO’s Open Door,” says “In light of Ukraine’s restated aspirations for NATO membership, Allies also stand by their decisions taken at the Bucharest Summit and subsequent Summits.”
As reported, at the Bucharest Summit, which took place in April 2008, said allies “welcome Ukraine’s and Georgia’s Euro-Atlantic aspirations for membership in NATO. We agreed today that these countries will become members of NATO.” The declaration also said a membership action plan (MAP) was “next step for Ukraine and Georgia on their direct way to membership” and “today we make clear that we support these countries’ applications for MAP.”
Stoltenberg’s 2018 report under the section, titled “Assistance to Ukraine,” says “A sovereign, independent and stable Ukraine, firmly committed to democracy and the rule of law, is key to Euro-Atlantic security.”
“Since Russia’s illegal and illegitimate annexation of Crimea in 2014, NATO has stepped up political and practical support to Ukraine. This commitment was reconfirmed at the Brussels Summit in July 2018, where NATO leaders met with President Petro Poroshenko of Ukraine, together with President Giorgi Margvelashvili of Georgia,” the report says.
Stoltenberg recalled that in 2018 the Ukraine-NATO commission continued to discuss the security situation in and around Ukraine, including Crimea, eastern Ukraine and the Black Sea.
“It also discussed Ukraine’s wide-ranging reforms aimed at implementing Euro-Atlantic principles and standards against the background of Ukraine’s aspirations for NATO membership,” the report said.
Stoltenberg also said “NATO’s commitment to assisting Ukraine’s security and defense sector reforms through the Comprehensive Assistance Package – including 10 Trust Funds – remains high.”
The report also notes recommended assistance of NATO representatives in the sphere of law and national security, rehabilitation of wounded soldiers and support of Ukrainian medical institutions, as well as continuing the program for requalification of discharged soldiers. Since 2014, NATO has assisted Ukrainian soldiers to overcome psychological problems caused by the war.
Stoltenberg also mentioned a new NATO project under the new “NATO Science for Peace and Security Project” to enable real-time detection of explosives in public transport.
“Follow-on projects are under development on cyber defense and radioactive waste disposal. In response to a request from Ukraine following a series of explosions at ammunition depots, NATO has developed specific projects to enhance secure and safe storage of ammunition,” the report says.
A separate chapter of the report is dedicated to relations with Russia. It says the alliance’s ties with Moscow will depend on charges in the constructive actions of Russia, which will demonstrate its compliance with it international obligations and responsibilities.
