Press Secretary of the President Dmitry Peskov
© Mikhail Metzel/TASS
ASTANA, 8 June. /TASS/. The Kremlin is concerned about NATO expansion to Russia’s borders, will take action to restore balance.
This was reported to journalists the press Secretary of the President Dmitry Peskov.
“In Moscow traditionally with distrust and concern in the process of expansion of NATO towards our borders. We believe that this threatens our security and balance of power in the Eurasian region. Of course, Russia is taking all necessary steps to rebalancing the situation and protect their own interests and security,” he said.
So the press Secretary commented that the Ukrainian Parliament adopted a bill stating that NATO membership is a priority in the foreign policy of the country.
Thus, answering the question, does Ukraine have a chance to join NATO, Peskov reminded that in this country “civil war” (one of the conditions of membership of a state in the Alliance is the absence of internal conflicts and territorial disputes).
“Not for us to take such a decision. In fact, this is a country where civil war continues, but otherwise this decision is taken in Brussels (where the headquarters of NATO) and in other capitals, where are carried out the General management of the process “, – said Peskov.
Earlier Wednesday, the Ukrainian Parliament adopted a bill according to which NATO membership is a priority in the foreign policy of the country. The MPs have introduced changes to the laws “On fundamentals of domestic and foreign policy” and “About bases of national security of Ukraine”, securing on the legislative level, the provision stating that “Ukraine’s membership in NATO is a priority of the state foreign policy”.
In December 2014, the Verkhovna Rada refused to non-aligned status of the state. President Petro Poroshenko said that Ukraine needs by 2020 to ensure full compatibility of armed forces with those of NATO countries. According to him, NATO membership is a strategic goal of the country. The President also promised that Kiev will organize a referendum on joining the North Atlantic Alliance. However, the Secretary-General of the organization Jens Stoltenberg said that despite the decision of the Verkhovna Rada about the refusal from non-aligned status of Ukraine, the country still has a long way will be able to become a NATO member. Experts also believe that Ukraine will not be able to apply for membership in NATO in the next 20 years.