The President of the European Commission, Ursula Von der Leyen, defended this Wednesday in Vilnius, Lithuania, that Ukraine must meet conditions not only to join the European Union, but also to join NATO.
“We have an important contribution to make in relation to Ukraine’s desire not only to join the European Union, but also to join NATO,” said the European Commission President, emphasizing that for dual membership “reforms are indispensable”, such as “strengthening institutions and fighting corruption, for example”.
It is clear that the two processes go hand in hand from now on. But, Ursula von Der Leyen promises, “in this context”, the support of Brussels.
“The European Commission is working intensively with Ukraine to implement these reforms,” said von der Leyen, “amazing to see how quickly Ukraine is guaranteeing the reforms despite this war”.
“One thing is certain: this terrible war will change the face of Europe forever,” he said, welcoming the application of the defensive alliance space, with “Finland joining NATO [e] Sweden joins NATO”.
“Congratulations again to Sweden for this success,” von der Leyen said, emphasizing that he will never accept that the rules are dictated by those who wield military power.
“Everyone has realized that this is more than the war that Russia has unleashed against Ukraine. It is about who we are and what the world’s rules are. We never want to accept that ‘might makes law’,” he said.
However, the meeting has already begun, first with the heads of state and government of the Atlantic Alliance, and later with Volodymyr Zelensky in what will be the first meeting of the NATO-Ukraine Council.
The meeting is intended as “a sign of rapprochement” between Ukraine and NATO, Atlantic Alliance Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said yesterday at the end of the first day of the Summit. The heads of state and government promised to “invite Ukraine to join NATO”, but this will only happen “when the allies agree and the conditions are met,” Stoltenberg announced.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said in the afternoon that the lack of an accession timetable was a “missed opportunity” and an “absurdity”. However, during a speech in Vilnius, during a supporting act for Ukraine, he thanked the support.
Source: DN
