Ukrainian Deputy Foreign Minister Yehor Bozhok has said the ministry confirms Ukraine's immutable goal to acquire membership in the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO).
"We've stated clearly that our ultimate goal is to achieve NATO membership. Tactics may vary, but our goal remains the same," he said at the international conference titled "Hybrid threats: Understand, adapt, and respond" held on September 26.
At the same time, the official confirmed Ukraine's determination to extend practical cooperation with and close integration into the Alliance.
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As UNIAN reported earlier, a number of media outlets shared an interview with Ukrainian MP from the Servant of the People Party, Iryna Vereshchuk, the Government's envoy to Parliament, where she said: "We are willing, but they aren't taking us (into NATO). We've been knocking on closed doors, while losing our reputation. We mustn't go where we are not welcome. We need to move and become stronger ... We have cooperation programs, that's it."
Ukraine's Cabinet of Ministers said the media interpreted incorrectly the statement voiced by Vereshchuk. Ukraine will become a real candidate for NATO membership if serious progress is made in reforms related to overcoming corruption and ensuring good governance, transparency, and respect for human rights and gender equality, including criminal justice and judicial reforms. "This is precisely what Vereshchuk had in mind when citing examples of other countries that were joining NATO," the Cabinet said.
