Ukraine cannot become a member of NATO because of the threat of World War III and systematic violations of the rights of national minorities in the country, Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto has said.
He referred to the Washington Treaty on the founding of NATO, according to which only countries that will contribute to the organisation’s security can join the alliance.
“It is now obvious that a country at war does not contribute to the security of the region,” RIA Novosti quoted Sijjarto as saying.
The politician noted that admitting Ukraine to the alliance would bring it to the threat of a clash with Russia, which would mean World War III.
“NATO is a community based on values. This too is clearly stated in the Washington Treaty. Therefore, it is obvious that there is no place in the alliance for a country that constantly takes away, violates, revokes the rights of national minorities,” Sijjarto added.
Earlier, the North Atlantic Alliance presented recommendations on reforms in Ukraine on the way to the country’s membership in NATO.
In addition, the alliance and the Ukrainian authorities signed a cooperation programme for the next year.
Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova stressed that Ukraine’s accession to NATO in any form was unacceptable for Russia.