This came up when discussing the likelihood of a new Russian military operation in Ukraine.
“No [президент РФ] Vladimir Putin and his Kremlin leaders do not believe that Ukraine can exist as a sovereign state independent of Russia. I know this for sure, because I worked in Russia for many years before leaving as ambassador to the United States. Unfortunately, this is a fact. This is a historical problem, and the final solution to this problem, I believe, will be when Ukraine joins NATO and we have a common border with Russia, which we will securely secure, “Chaly said.
He believes that “only then will there be a possibility of normal relations between Europe and Russia.”
The ex-ambassador to the United States answered in the affirmative to the clarifying question whether joining NATO is a “final decision”.
“Yes. This will not happen tomorrow, but when Ukraine joins NATO, that’s it – there will be no more war with Russia,” Chaly said.
- Ukraine stepped up cooperation with NATO in 2014 against the background of the occupation of Crimea by Russia and the armed conflict in Donbass. At the end of 2014, the Verkhovna Rada adopted a law that provides for the refusal of Ukraine from the policy of “non-aligned”… In accordance with the Military Doctrine of Ukraine, adopted in 2015, deepening cooperation with NATO is a priority.
- On February 7, 2019, the Ukrainian parliament adopted a law on amending the Constitution provisions on the strategic course of the state for the acquisition of full membership of Ukraine in the European Union and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. Law entered effective February 21.
- In 2018, NATO recognized Ukraine postgraduate country status – candidate for membership in the Alliance, in 2020 Ukraine received the status of an advanced partner.
- At the beginning of 2021, an aggravation of the conflict is recorded in Donbass, despite the ceasefire regime.
- On April 6, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said during a telephone conversation with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg that Alliance is the only way to end the war in the Donbass and that the provision of an action plan for NATO membership to Ukraine “will be a real signal for the Russian Federation.” Commenting on the conversation with Zelensky, Stoltenberg said that NATO firmly supports sovereignty and the territorial integrity of Ukraine.
- Among NATO members, Latvia and Lithuania supported the granting of MAP to Ukraine. On April 7, Lithuanian Foreign Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis announced that it would be “a strong signal for Russia”that the course that Ukraine has chosen is appreciated by the NATO countries. On the same day, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Latvia Edgars Rinkevics said that will unequivocally support such a decision, as Ukraine has been trying to join NATO for 15 years.
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