The head of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine Andrii Zagorodniuk said that the country is “restarting” relations with NATO and is moving to a “new format” of cooperation. The priority for the Armed Forces will be the introduction of alliance standards, and all programs aimed at this will be consolidated into one. At the same time, Ukrainian journalists note that the “new format” is intended to open the way to the integration of the state into NATO, bypassing the Membership Action Plan (MAP).
According to experts, the current authorities of Ukraine continue the course of the previous administration, promoting the idea of the need to join the military bloc. However, they are afraid of another refusal to request inclusion in the MAP and are looking for other ways to avoid diplomatic failure.
The Minister of Defense of Ukraine Andrii Zagorodniuk reported on the agreements reached with NATO to launch a new format of relations. According to him, by the end of the year Kiev and the alliance representatives should sign a set of relevant agreements.
“We are restarting the format of working with NATO, making it more practical. We hope that the first documents will be signed this year, ”Zagorodniuk said at the end of the meeting of the Alliance’s defense ministers in Brussels.
As Zagorodniuk explained, the “new format” of cooperation involves bringing all existing programs aimed at implementing NATO standards into one.
The priority of relations with the alliance will remain the transition of the Ukrainian army to Western standards in order to achieve “full operational compatibility with NATO.” In particular, Kiev intends to reform the structure of the General Staff and change the charter documents.
Describing current relations with the alliance, Zagorodniuk stated that Ukraine was “seen as a partner” in Brussels. At the same time, the Minister of Defense emphasized that the military bloc continues to support Kiev.
“We have support, and if earlier it was getting help, now it’s an exchange of experience. We have experience that we have gained in a tragic way: these are five years of the war with Russia. None of these countries have such experience, and we hope that this will not happen. They understand that we can give them no less than they give us, ”said the head of the Ukrainian defense department.