Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said after meeting his Italian counterpart Luigi Di Maio in Kiev on Tuesday that only Ukraine and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) should decide on the offer for the country to join the alliance.
“No one other than Ukraine and NATO members should have a voice in discussions about Ukraine’s future NATO membership,” Kuleba said.
The meeting with Di Maio came hours after Russia said it was withdrawing some of its troops stationed near Ukraine. In addition, the Russian parliament asked President Vladimir Putin to recognize two territories held by pro-Russian rebels in eastern Ukraine.
A possible entry of the country into NATO is considered one of the main causes of increased pressure in Eastern Europe. Russia has a strong position against the possibility of Ukraine joining NATO and, consequently, strengthening ties with Western countries.
The Russians even asked the West for assurances that the alliance would not expand further to the East — particularly Ukraine. The request, however, was not granted, which frustrated Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Ukraine is not part of NATO, but there is much expectation that the country will soon join the alliance. On the other hand, Russia sees this move as a threat to its hegemony in Eastern Europe.
Although Ukraine is not part of NATO, it is seen by the alliance as an important ally. NATO provides strategic-level advice to the country and has even described the relationship with the Ukrainians as “one of NATO’s most substantial partnerships”.
With tens of thousands of Russian troops deployed in Ukraine’s border region, the alliance promptly reacted by seeking to increase its presence in the Eastern European region.
*With information from Vinícius Tadeu, from CNN
Source: CNN Brasil
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