Ukraine will be invited to join NATO when the Allies are ready and MAP is no longer needed - Alliance Summit Communiqué
North Atlantic Treaty Organisation allies say they will be able to extend an invitation to Ukraine to join when the allies agree, the Membership Action Plan is no longer a prerequisite.
This is stated in the final communiqué of the leaders of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation member states, Censor.NET reports with reference to Interfax-Ukraine.
"We fully support Ukraine's right to choose its own security mechanisms. The future of Ukraine is in NATO. We reaffirm the commitment we made at the 2008 Bucharest Summit that Ukraine will become a NATO member, and today we recognise that Ukraine's path to full Euro-Atlantic integration has gone beyond the need for a Membership Action Plan," the document says.
The Allies state that Ukraine is becoming "increasingly operationally and politically integrated into the Alliance and has made significant progress on its reform agenda". "In accordance with the 1997 Charter on a Distinctive Partnership between NATO and Ukraine and the 2009 Addendum, Allies will continue to support and review Ukraine's progress in interoperability, as well as additional democratic and security reforms needed. NATO Foreign Ministers will regularly assess progress through an adapted Annual National Programme. The Alliance will support Ukraine in implementing these reforms on its path to future membership. We will be in a position to extend an invitation to Ukraine to join the Alliance when Allies agree and the conditions are met," the communiqué said.
In addition, the allies reaffirmed their "unwavering solidarity with the government and people of Ukraine in the heroic defence of their land and our common values". "We fully support Ukraine's inherent right to self-defence, as enshrined in Article 51 of the UN Charter. We remain firmly committed to further strengthening our political and practical support for Ukraine as it continues to defend its independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity within its internationally recognised borders, and will continue our support for as long as necessary. We commend the efforts of all allies and partners who are supporting Ukraine," the document says.
