REUTERS
Public support for NATO membership in Ukraine is growing and now exceeds 60%, Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko said at a meeting of the National Security and Defense Council (NSDC), which was attended by NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg.
"The Euro-Atlantic course with prospect of NATO membership is being increasingly supported by Ukrainian society, and it is extremely important. Two years ago, a mere 16% of Ukrainians supported the policy of Euro-Atlantic integration. A year ago, this figure was rapidly approaching 50%. As of today, the number of the Ukrainians who support integration into the Alliance has already exceeded 60%. This means that the Ukrainian people support the Euro-Atlantic choice, Poroshenko said.
"And when we create all conditions through the reform of the country to meet the criteria for Ukraine's NATO membership, I will take a decision to hold a nationwide referendum, and this will be the expression of the will of the Ukrainian people," he said.