Kiev. September 22. INTERFAX-UKRAINE-Ukraine is having a frank and friendly conversation with NATO that its integration into the alliance cannot last indefinitely, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmitry Kuleba said.
"There is no understanding when Ukraine will receive the MAP (action plan for NATO membership-IF). But this is the frank conversation (and it is very friendly, by the way) that we have with NATO, that integration cannot be endless, " Kuleba said live on his Facebook page on Wednesday.
The minister added that the process of acquiring NATO membership by Ukraine and Georgia "has already stretched indecently long."
"I think everyone should approach this issue more pragmatically and practically, because there can be no endless integration. Everything should have its own certainty and clarity. Both NATO and Ukraine are convinced that they are making each other stronger, because this is an absolutely natural process, and we will continue to make the reforms necessary for Euro - Atlantic integration," he assured.
In addition, Kuleba noted that NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg positively assessed the Ukrainian reforms and thanked the President of Ukraine for his dedication to the course of reforms.
"But we all also understand that there are countries in the alliance that are not really interested in Ukrainian reforms, but simply hide behind this argument in order to restrain the Euro-Atlantic integration of Ukraine. And we should talk about it. We should not be afraid to speak openly about those cases where the interests of Ukraine are deliberately and rudely ignored, where there are manipulations, " the Foreign Minister stressed.
Earlier on Wednesday, Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky said that Ukraine is one of the most priority countries for joining NATO.
"I believe that we are one of the most priority countries in this direction (joining NATO - IF), and the choice is further for NATO," Zelensky told reporters in New York.
According to the head of state, "Ukraine is not in a "blind corner" regarding potential membership in the North Atlantic Alliance.
"I believe that Ukraine can finally calmly say that without such a state as it, the alliance will be weaker. And this will continue to be the choice of the alliance countries themselves, whether they want to have a powerful alliance, a powerful NATO and defend themselves, especially small countries that, when joining the alliance, believed very much in such protection," Zelensky added.
