NATO: Non-aligned status of Ukraine not means its neutrality

The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) believes that the non-aligned status of Ukraine does not automatically mean its neutrality.

This issue was discussed during the interactive conference "Enhancing security through cooperation", dedicated to cooperation with NATO in the situation of non-aligned status of Ukraine.
In particular, the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Finland to Ukraine Arja Makkonen said that "we can not be neutral being the EU members. If the citizens of our countries decide that we should join the NATO, the doors of the Alliance will be open to us. "

 

Makkonen noted that Ukraine needs the cooperation with NATO in the light of the threats facing the world in the early 21st century - terrorism, piracy, cyber threat.

The diplomatic representatives of Finland, Estonia, Slovakia and Lithuania, who also participated in the conference, urged Ukraine to remember their national interests and not be afraid of the reaction of neighbors, particularly Russia.

Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Estonia Sulev Kannik, speaking about the history of his country's accession to NATO, said that then the Kremlin was very concerned about this step of Tallinn, but after joining the Alliance the Moscow’s claims only decreased.

"We cannot say that we have friendly relations with Russia. However, we maintain partnerships, conduct effective cooperation, flow of trade and tourism between our two countries increase," Kannik said.