Ukraine's foreign minister: Ukraine will not accept Russia's demand to give up NATO membership

Ukraine maintains its position that compromises on NATO membership are unacceptable during peace negotiations.

As reported by a European Pravda correspondent, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha said in a meeting with journalists in Brussels that at the NATO–Ukraine Council meeting, he informed allies that Kyiv remains firm on its NATO aspirations.

"There are fundamental things Ukraine will not accept, and one of them is the impossibility of a third country having a veto on our aspiration to become a NATO member," the minister said.

Sybiha emphasised that NATO membership is not a short-term objective, but Russia’s opinion will not be considered.

"Yes, there is no consensus yet, but that is not due to a veto from another country, such as Russia," he added. 

The minister believes that Ukraine’s accession to NATO is essential not only for Ukraine itself but for the entire region. 

"The most effective factor in guaranteeing our security and transatlantic security – and these are inseparable – is our NATO membership," he concluded. 

At the Brussels meeting, NATO reiterated the irreversibility of Ukraine’s membership in the Alliance and that the decisions of the Washington Summit remain in force.

It was also reported that during the NATO–Ukraine Council meeting, Sybiha urged the Allies to increase pressure on Russia to force it to agree to peace.