Poroshenko promised to hold a referendum on Ukraine’s accession to NATO
The President of Ukraine, Petro Poroshenko, intends to hold a referendum on Ukraine’s accession to NATO. Poroshenko didn’t specify the date of voting. The President stated in his interview to the German newspaper Berliner Morgenpost that Ukraine needs NATO, noting that he will make every effort to ensure the accession of Ukraine to NATO if Ukrainians vote in favor of this.
“As the President of Ukraine, I will ask my people for their opinions on this issue. A referendum on the accession of Ukraine to NATO will be held. And I will make every effort to obtain NATO membership if Ukrainians vote in favor of this,” Poroshenko said. At the same time, the President stressed that, four years ago, only 16% of Ukrainians were in favor of country’s accession to NATO. Now, 54% of Ukrainians support it.
In addition, Petro Poroshenko stated that he is proud to be the President of a country, in which more than 70% of its residents support the European Union. “In times of Brexit and the right-wing populists, it is impressive,” the President said. Poroshenko believes that Ukraine is on the right track for the implementation of all the conditions that are required to join the European Union. The President thinks that Europe should understand that it will be safer, happier and more reliable with Ukraine.
The President of Ukraine expressed his opinion that the European Union should stand against the right-wing populism, creating a counterbalance to propaganda, which comes from Russia. Poroshenko suggested that the establishment of a Russian-language TV Channel with the participation of a number of countries would be a step in the right direction for the European Union.
In this case, European voters who were born in the countries of the former USSR, would have an alternative source of information and would be able to shield themselves from the influence of propagandistic broadcasters. Petro Poroshenko called Angela Merkel and her opponent in the political struggle for the position of the German Chancellor, Martin Schulz, brilliant politicians.
“I will respect the choice of German people as long as they don’t vote in favor of populists,” the President added. Earlier, Poroshenko paid an official visit to Germany on January 30th. The President met with Angela Merkel during his visit. Poroshenko expressed the need to hold a referendum on Ukraine’s accession to NATO in November 2014.
At that time, the President noted that the plebiscite will take place when Ukraine meets the standards of the Alliance.