Deshchytsia: Whether Ukraine will join NATO depends on Russia
Moscow - Kyiv, May 26 (Navigator, Mikhail Stamm) - Ukraine is not joining NATO yet, but in the new draft of the country's constitution, the country's military neutrality is not guaranteed, and how the situation will develop depends on Russia's actions. Acting stated this in an interview with NG. Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Andrey Deshchitsa.
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According to him, in mid-May, a temporary special commission of the Verkhovna Rada handed over to the Venice Commission a draft amendment to the Basic Law. The commission is expected to evaluate the project as soon as possible. Its recommendations will be taken into account, after which the draft of the new Constitution of Ukraine will be submitted to the Verkhovna Rada for consideration. If by the end of the current parliamentary session the deputies are able to approve the document in the first reading, then, in accordance with Ukrainian legislation, the final approval of the new Constitution may take place at the next session, in the fall.
According to Deshchitsa, he does not know whether the issue of joining NATO is included in the text of the draft new Constitution. “But I can absolutely say that in the near future the issue of Ukraine’s membership in NATO will not be included on the agenda,” says the acting governor. head of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. “This is not provided for in Ukrainian legislation and is not a priority of the government’s program.”
Deshchitsa recalled that in this issue not only the desire of Ukraine plays a role, but also the position of NATO. “Currently there are no negotiations on this topic. As for Ukrainian society, according to opinion polls, approximately 38–40% of citizens support the idea of joining NATO. Their number has increased. But we understand that in conditions of undeclared external aggression, people have a request for protection within the framework of a strong system of collective security. How the situation will develop, what the mood of Ukrainians will be, also depends on Russia’s further actions,” the official noted.
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