On the air of the Lithuanian TV channel Lrytas.tv, Petro Poroshenko called on the leaders of the North Atlantic Alliance to define specific conditions for Ukraine’s membership in NATO, so that at the next summit in Washington, our country will become the 33rd member of NATO.
He noted that a similar mechanism was used when Ukraine received a visa-free regime from the EU. Poroshenko also emphasized that Ukraine can fulfill the necessary conditions as quickly as possible, and the Armed Forces of Ukraine is already the best army in Europe, which is de facto created according to NATO standards.
“Now Europe and NATO are protected from Russian aggression not by Article 5 of NATO, but by the blue and yellow shield of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. Now we are the largest, strongest and most effective Armed Forces on the continent, which can stop Russian aggression, deputize Russia and Europe,” Poroshenko said.
“I am sure that the NATO countries will definitely find a solution. I am very impressed by the 33 thousand Ukrainian flags in Vilnius. Many Lithuanians, guests of Vilnius, are holding a flash mob of support and a certain push for NATO leaders to be brave enough not to be afraid of Putin. Do not be afraid to defeat Russia. Do not be afraid of Ukrainian victory. We need support now and the maximum result in Vilnius,” Poroshenko emphasizes.
“More than 90% of Ukrainians support NATO membership. It is not only about stable security on the continent. It’s also about peace, because Ukraine’s membership in NATO is a key condition for peace on the continent,” says the fifth President.
“Ukraine should be the 33rd member of NATO, and we definitely take into account the words of President Biden and some other leaders that Ukraine should be ready for NATO membership. Therefore, it is worth using the experience regarding the visa-free regime, which I signed in 2017. We had 144 conditions. We had to define the criteria for the visa-free regime. And now it is also worth having a complete list of reforms and what should be done in Ukraine, it should be agreed now,” says Poroshenko.
“We are ready to work hard to prepare Ukraine for membership in the shortest possible time, which should take place at the Washington Summit next year. We have a very good promoter, a very good agitator, who is doing more than anyone else for the future of Ukrainian membership. The name of this promoter is the Armed Forces of Ukraine. They conduct the most difficult negotiations, have the most compelling arguments for the future membership of the Ukrainian people,” says Poroshenko.
“Putin understands only one language – the language of strength. And NATO should also learn from Ukraine how to speak with Putin in the language of strength. If we speak the language of strength, then victory will definitely be ours, if we fear him, then victory will be for Putin. This is a very clear choice. We are doing everything possible for the victory of democracy and freedom. And the sooner Ukraine becomes a member of NATO, the better it will be for the West,” Poroshenko believes.