Ukraine officially rejects alternatives to NATO membership

Flags of NATO countries, photo: ukrainianworldcongress.org

Ukraine refuses alternative formats of security guarantees that may be offered as an alternative to the country's membership in NATO.

This is stated in the statement of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine on the occasion of the approaching 30th anniversary of the signing of the Budapest Memorandum.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine reminded that December 5 marks the 30th anniversary of the signing of the Memorandum on Security Guarantees in connection with Ukraine's accession to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, also known as the Budapest Memorandum. One of the guarantors of Ukraine's security was the Russian Federation.

«The only real guarantee of security and a deterrent to further Russian aggression is Ukraine's full membership in NATO,» the statement reads.

At the same time, the diplomats note that Ukraine refuses in advance from formats alternative to membership.

«Having the bitter experience of the Budapest Memorandum behind us, we will not settle for any alternatives, surrogates or substitutes for Ukraine's full membership in NATO,» the Ministry of Foreign Affairs emphasizes.

It should be noted that President Volodymyr Zelenskyy assumes that in the event of Ukraine joining NATO, the fifth article on collective security will not apply to the entire territory. But the invitation cannot be «in parts».

As you know, Ukraine is asking NATO to invite it to join the military alliance next week. This is stated in the corresponding letter, which the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, Andriy Sybiha, sent to NATO allies on the eve of the meeting of foreign ministers of NATO member countries, which will take place on December 3-4 in Brussels.