Ukraine's UN envoy says NATO membership is not Kyiv's main goal right now

For Ukraine, the long-desired membership in the North Atlantic Alliance remains on the agenda. However, the issue of security guarantees is now of central importance for the country as an interim solution.

This was stated by Andriy Melnyk, who was recently appointed Permanent Representative of Ukraine to the United Nations. He gave an interview to the German edition of the Berliner Morgenpost.

The diplomat, who left the post of ambassador to Germany, was asked what guarantees Ukraine would demand and from whom if it fails to become a NATO member in the foreseeable future.

"NATO membership remains on the agenda, but the issue of security guarantees is of central importance to us as an interim solution. However, they should go beyond purely political promises, such as the 1994 Budapest Memorandum," Melnyk said.

According to him, the partners will have to carefully describe the military means they will use to defend Ukraine if Russia attacks the country again.

Speaking about the possibility of obtaining security guarantees, he added that these could be both bilateral and multilateral agreements, which should include commitments to Ukraine's defense.

In addition, he emphasized, Kyiv needs international defense commitments of Western allies in case Russia threatens or invades Ukraine again.

"They could also become part of a possible large-scale peace treaty with Russia," Melnyk suggested.

As reported, earlier, Michael Carpenter, director for Europe at the US National Security Council, commented on Ukraine's membership in NATO. According to him, it could allegedly follow the cessation of hostilities in the country, with Article 5 of the Alliance's Charter being the best security guarantee for Kyiv afterwards.

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