Ukraine’s deputy foreign minister stated on Friday that the country will not join the alliance in stages, emphasizing his country’s commitment to territorial integrity within internationally recognized borders.
“Ukraine is a state that has defined, internationally recognized borders, and, of course, we will join certain organizations within internationally recognized borders,” stated Yevhen Perebyinis, according to Ukrinform, citing Ukraine’s national telethon, United News.
Perebyinis stated that Ukraine has outgrown the stage of the Membership Action Plan, which underpins Ukraine’s preparation to join the bloc.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy lauded NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg’s visit to Ukraine on Thursday as evidence that the alliance is ready to embark on a new era of “ambitious decisions” concerning Ukraine.
Stoltenberg’s visit is his first to the country since the start of the Russia-Ukraine war in February 2022.