Yermak: Ukraine's NATO membership will strengthen Alliance’s positions
Head of the President's Office Andriy Yermak made a corresponding statement during a meeting with the heads of delegations of NATO member states to the headquarters of the Alliance on November 3, the press service of the Head of State informs.
"We expect confirmation of the Alliance's open door policy in the context of Ukraine's application for membership, as well as the expansion of assistance to Ukraine to strengthen air defense. In addition, we expect progress in the dialogue with NATO member countries regarding security guarantees," he noted and recalled that an international group of experts co-chaired by Andriy Yermak and former NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen developed recommendations on security guarantees for Ukraine, which can become the basis of the Kyiv Security Compact.
Yermak also emphasized the importance of rebuilding Ukraine and eliminating the consequences of the Russian invasion. According to him, two major conferences were held in Lugano and Berlin, dedicated to the plan for Ukraine’s restoration. However, now the Ukrainian side is focused on the implementation of the Fast Recovery Plan.
"Because 24/7 we live in a situation where all our services are working to provide citizens with electricity and heat, so that people have a place to live," he explained.
In addition, the Head of the President's Office emphasized the importance of a clear and powerful reaction by the leaders of NATO member states to Russia’s nuclear blackmail and threats.
"These eight months, during which Ukraine, with the support of its partners, is resisting Russian aggression, have shown that it is possible not to be afraid, and confirmed the leadership of NATO as the most powerful military and political alliance in the world," Yermak noted.
"Ukraine demonstrates that it can successfully fight the aggressor and confirms that it is capable of winning with the help of its partners. We are sure of our victory," added the Head of the President’s Office.
Deputy Head of the President’s Office Ihor Zhovkva informed foreign partners about the initiative of President Volodymyr Zelensky regarding the conclusion of joint declarations on the Euro-Atlantic integration of Ukraine.
"The first such declaration was signed between Ukraine and the Czech Republic at the beginning of this week. I hope that your countries will also support this initiative," he said.
In addition, Zhovkva emphasized that Ukraine needed to receive counter-unmanned aircraft systems within the framework of NATO's Comprehensive Assistance Package for Ukraine as soon as possible.
Representatives of ten foreign countries took part in the meeting: Permanent Representative of Albania to NATO Visho Ajazi Lika, Permanent Representative of Bulgaria to NATO Zlatin Krastev (Chargé d'affaires a.i.), Permanent Representative of Estonia to NATO Jüri Luik, Permanent Representative of Latvia to NATO Edgars Skuja, Permanent Representative of Lithuania to NATO Deividas Matulionis, Permanent Representative of Poland to NATO Tomasz Szatkowski, Permanent Representative of Slovakia to NATO Peter Bator, Permanent Representative of North Macedonia to NATO Dane Taleski, Permanent Representative of Romania to NATO Dănuţ-Sebastian Neculăescu, Permanent Representative of the Czech Republic to NATO Jakub Landovský, as well as Deputy Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine Ihor Zhovkva and Head of Ukraine's Mission to NATO Nataliia Galibarenko.
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