The Ukrainian Foreign Ministry has reiterated that Ukraine’s membership of NATO is stipulated as a goal in the Constitution of Ukraine. Foreign Ministry spokesman Oleh Nikolenko was responding to comments by Ukraine’s Ambassador to the UK on the possibility of Ukraine renouncing NATO membership for the sake of peace.
Writing on his Facebook account, Nikolenko said that:
“The words of Ukraine's Ambassador to the United Kingdom, Vadym Prystayko, that Ukraine is supposedly ready to consider giving up NATO membership in order to prevent a war with Russia, have been taken out of context.“
Nikolenko added that all decisions must be adopted in accordance with the country’s Constitution.
Commenting on the country’s security, which is currently threatened by the presence of Russian troops along its borders, Nikolenko added “the best kind of guarantee would be Ukraine immediately becoming a member of NATO.
But Ukraine faces threats here and now, and that is why the search for an answer to the issue of guarantees becomes a fundamental, urgent task.”
Vadym Prystayko was speaking in an interview with BBC Radio 5 Live in which he suggested that Ukraine may refuse to join NATO if circumstances force it to.
Amendments to the Constitution of Ukraine require at least 300 votes in favor in the 450-seat Ukrainian Parliament.
Russia is continuing to demand that Ukraine will never join the security alliance.
