The fact that some NATO member states still view Ukraine through the prism of their relations with Russia is a hindrance for Ukraine's NATO membership. This was stated by Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba on the air of one of the TV channels, writes UNN.
"Unfortunately, several NATO member states are still pondering the decision on the prospect of Ukraine's membership in the Alliance, asking themselves the question: what will Russia say to this? And that is why we say to them: stop looking at Ukraine through the prism of Russia. This is not what you have been promising us repeatedly since 2008, when NATO said that no third party would influence decisions about Ukraine-NATO relations. This position has been declared at all levels but unfortunately, in practice we see that the Russian factor plays its role", the minister said.
At the same time according to him many NATO countries support our country's membership.
"Now it is necessary to work and not to put the responsibility on Ukraine for any delay in obtaining Ukraine's membership in NATO," he said.
Kuleba confirmed that there is also a reform track in the dialogue between Ukraine and NATO. At the same time, in his opinion, Ukraine is extremely advanced in reforming the country, particularly its security sector.
"But let us never forget: reforms are one thing, it is important, but an obstacle to Ukraine's membership in NATO, unfortunately, is the fact that some countries still look at Ukraine through the prism of their relations with Russia," the minister stressed.
NATO member states have not yet reached a consensus on whether Ukraine should be part of the organization. The secretary-general of the North Atlantic Alliance, Jens Stoltenberg, said that to be a member of NATO, one has to meet the standards. The NATO secretary-general noted that the alliance was helping Ukraine to fight corruption, but the 30 members (of the organization) had to come to a consensus, while NATO had no consensus so far.
