Ukraine’s integration into the European Union and NATO is “an ambitious goal,” and therefore it would be wrong to name particular dates when it could be accomplished, Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko said.
“The issues of the European Union and NATO are closely interrelated. These two organizations have somewhat different goals but common values. And the membership criteria that we still have to meet are very, very similar. Accession to the EU and the North Atlantic alliance are actually a very ambitious goal, and it is so hard to achieve. It’s so hard to achieve that it would be wrong to promise specific dates,” Poroshenko said in presenting draft amendments to the constitution proclaiming integration with the EU and NATO as Ukraine’s strategic objectives at the Verkhovna Rada on Nov. 22.
At the same time, “every day of hard work being done by diplomats, military service members and the entire country is bringing Ukraine closer to this goal,” he said.
