11 Nations Back Ukraine's NATO Membership at Croatia Summit
Following the meeting in Dubrovnik, Croatia, the parties supported Ukraine's invitation to NATO.
The Gaze reports on this with reference to the relevant communiqué from the press service of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine.
The signatories of the communiqué following the meeting at the ministerial level ‘Ukraine - South-Eastern Europe’ supported Ukraine on its irreversible path to full Euro-Atlantic integration, including NATO membership.
‘NATO membership remains the most cost-effective security option for Ukraine. Neither Russia nor any other non-NATO member state has the right to veto the Alliance's expansion. We fully support Ukraine's right to choose its own security arrangements and to determine its future free from external interference,’ the statement said.
They also confirmed their determination to ensure further progress in meeting the European Union's accession criteria and fundamental EU values.
‘The future membership of Ukraine, the Republic of Moldova and our Western Balkan partners in the EU is vital for the long-term stability, security and prosperity of our region and Europe as a whole,’ the ministers stressed.
In particular, in the communiqué, the parties condemned Russia's full-scale military invasion of Ukraine and pledged to strengthen cooperation in countering hybrid threats, manipulation and interference by foreign states, disinformation campaigns and malicious cyber operations.
The countries also called for maintaining and strengthening sanctions against Russia, particularly in the banking and energy sectors, while adequately and effectively preventing sanctions circumvention.
The parties also pledged to contribute to the ongoing and post-war recovery and reconstruction of Ukraine.
The signatories of the communiqué include Croatia, Ukraine, Moldova, Montenegro, Albania, North Macedonia, Romania, Slovenia, Greece, Kosovo, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Turkey.
As is known, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte confirmed the Alliance's intention to continue supporting Ukraine on its path to membership after the North Atlantic Council meeting in The Hague.
Read about the expected results of the summit in the article ‘All about the NATO summit in The Hague, which will combine success and failure.’
Read more: If not NATO, What will be Effective Security Guarantees for Ukraine, and Who Can Provide Them?