Ukraine's Foreign Ministry dismisses Russia's NATO ultimatum as "hogwash"

Ulyana Krychkovska, Anastasia Protz — Friday, 24 January 2025, 15:29
Heorhii Tykhyi. Stock photo: Getty Images

Ukraine’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has responded to Russia’s demand that NATO’s 2008 Bucharest Summit promise regarding Ukraine’s future membership must be revoked as a condition for ending the war.

Source: European Pravda, citing Heorhii Tykhyi, spokesperson for Ukraine’s Foreign Ministry

Details: In response to Russia’s demand that Ukraine give up its aspirations to join NATO as promised in the 2008 Bucharest Summit Declaration, Tykhyi stated, "Moscow was not given a say in this matter."

Quote from Tykhyi: "Oh dear, North Korea’s ally is issuing ultimatums to NATO. Absolute hogwash. Moscow was not given a say in this matter."

More details: Tykhyi emphasised that Russia is waging a war of aggression in Europe.

"Russian occupying forces are in Ukraine and other European countries. European security architecture is built on defence against Russia," he concluded.

Background:

  • Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Grushko recently stated that for Russia, Ukraine abandoning its NATO membership aspirations, as outlined in the 2008 Bucharest Summit Declaration, is a key element in resolving the Russo-Ukrainian war.
  • Grushko claimed that Ukraine’s potential NATO membership "makes it impossible to achieve peace in Ukraine and, more broadly, to construct any form of security architecture".
  • Meanwhile, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy believes that US President Donald Trump could influence the issue of Ukraine’s NATO membership
  • In an interview with European Pravda, Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha reiterated that Ukraine would not give up its NATO aspirations or accept alternatives to membership.

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