Ukraine could join Nato after agreeing to economic reforms
UKRAINE will seek Nato membership in exchange for a series of economic and political reforms over the next three years, the country’s president said yesterday.
At the same time the alliance announced supplies of hi-tech cyber security equipment to help Kiev combat suspected Russian cyber attacks.
Petro Poroshenko, the Ukrainian president, said the former Soviet state would aim to complete political, military and economic reforms required to apply for a membership action plan, the formal path to membership, by 2020.
“Ukraine has clearly defined its political future and future in the sphere of security,” Mr Poroshenko told reporters at a joint press conference with Nato secretary general Jens Stoltenberg in Kiev.
“Today we clearly stated that we would begin a discussion about a membership action plan and our proposals for such a discussion were accepted with pleasure,” he added.
Mr Stoltenberg said Nato has provided new equipment to Ukraine to help identify the perpetrators of a cyber attack that briefly crippled government departments, banks and major businesses earlier this month. Ukrainian officials have said they believe Russia was behind the attack.
The Kremlin condemned the move and accused Ukraine of using “Russophobia and pseudo-russian threats to influence and manipulate European politicians”. Dmitry Peskov, Vladimir Putin’s spokesman, said: “It [Ukraine’s rapprochement with Nato] will not contribute to the strengthening of stability and security on the European continent.”
Yesterday’s announcement formalises Kiev’s goal of joining the alliance since a fast-track application was rejected in 2008. Ukraine’s parliament revoked a law on non-aligned status and declared joining Nato a long-term foreign policy goal in June.
However, Nato rules require that applicants resolve their international disputes peacefully, meaning Kiev would have to find a way to end the war in east Ukraine and resolve its dispute with Russia over Crimea before it could become a member of the alliance.
A peace plan negotiated in 2015 has largely stalled amid disagreements about whether Russia or Ukraine should fulfil their obligations first.
Rex Tillerson, the US secretary of state, said after a meeting with Mr Poroshenko that Moscow must restore Ukraine’s “territorial integrity” before the US lifts sanctions against Russia.