“My discussions on ‘security guarantees’ start with the withdrawal of Russian troops from Ukrainian territory,” said Deputy Prime Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration, Olga Stefanishyna at the NATO Ukraine Commission meeting in Brussels on Jan. 10.
Stefanishyna thanked Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg and the 30 NATO countries for following the principle of “nothing about Ukraine without Ukraine” and for their “unwavering and enduring support for Ukraine’s territorial integrity and sovereignty” since Russia invaded and occupied parts of Ukraine in 2014 and in the face a large unexplained build-up of well-armed Russian forces near Ukraine’s border.
Stefanishyna said she was in Brussels to give clarity about the security situation in and near Ukraine, and to give an update on the implementation of the Minsk Agreement and the Normandy Four dialogues relating to paths to peace in occupied eastern Ukraine.
The deputy prime minister underlined that the Russian Federation is attempting to use the presence and threat of force within and near Ukraine in order to try to pressure concessions from Ukraine in forced talks about “security guarantees,” and to try to reduce support to Ukraine from NATO and the U.S.
“Euro-Atlantic integration is enshrined in our constitution and supported by a majority of Ukrainian citizens“
and “it is not a subject to negotiation or a bargaining chip,” said Stefanishyna, adding that Ukraine has “an inherent sovereign right to choose our own arrangements, including treaties and alliances”.
While thanking NATO for present support, inclusion and cooperation, the official expressed her view that a clear path of instructions for Ukraine to implement towards full NATO membership and democratic transformation would strengthen the Alliance, give additional motivation to Ukraine to implement necessary reforms, and demotivate Russia's aggressive expansion plans.
Stoltenberg welcomed the Ukrainian official to NATO headquarters. He reminded the press that Russia still has “combat-ready troops armed with heavy capabilities” within and near Ukraine's legal border, and that last Friday, NATO foreign ministers again “called on Russia to remove its forces from Ukraine,” from near the borders of Ukraine, to de-escalate the situation and to demonstrate transparency in relation to its military build-up near Ukraine.
“The Russian military build-up demonstrates the relevance and importance of NATO's dual track approach to Russia; that we need strong deterrence and defense, but we need to combine that with a meaningful dialogue.” shared Stoltenberg adding that he had negotiated successfully with Russia before while he was Prime Minister of Norway, and he believes that it is possible to make deals with Russia.
In this context he welcomed the upcoming dialogues with the Russian Federation as an opportunity to explore paths towards peaceful solutions; to discern and seek a mutually agreeable process that will give peaceful progress with a focus on preventing new armed conflicts in Europe. He added that all negotiations are being conducted with the inclusion of and in consultation with allies in Europe, Ukraine, Georgia, and other allies.
While such negotiations are open in dialogue, some principles are not negotiable, such as the rights of nations to choose their own paths, agreements, associations, treaties and defensive arrangements; and the right of nations to defend themselves.
Stoltenberg reiterated that only Ukraine and the 30 NATO allies can decide when Ukraine is ready for membership, and no one else has any right to interfere in this conversation.
If the Russian Federation chooses “confrontation instead of cooperation” NATO is united and prepared to impose severe political and economic costs should Russia impose military force upon Ukraine again.
In answer to a question about Ukraine's future in NATO, the Secretary General shared that NATO helps Ukraine to move towards full membership by assisting in the implementation of reforms that raise Ukrainian systems and capabilities towards NATO standards. NATO has an office in Ukraine and also provides multiple trainings and supports to Ukraine.
Stoltenberg concluded that the Ukraine NATO Commission was a good opportunity to discuss and coordinate practical support for Ukraine, to exchange assessments on current situations and to align positions with Ukraine in advance of the scheduled NATO-Russia Council meeting on Jan. 12 in which the focus will be on “European security issues transparency related to military activities, risk reduction and arms control.”
Both Stefanishyna and Stoltenberg welcomed the upcoming talks with the Russian Federation in line with the policy that dialogue is a preferred process towards de-escalation, understanding and a possible agreement in accordance with international law.
