Herashchenko: Ukraine must make an effort to become a NATO member
First Deputy Chairwoman of the Verkhovna Rada Iryna Herashchenko hopes that Ukraine will become the 30th member of NATO. She expressed her views on Facebook while commenting on Montenegro entering the alliance.
Herashchenko believes that in 2008, Ukraine lost its chance to get the Action Plan on NATO membership because Russia’s coercion prevented any unity in this issue among political elite.
“We must wash away this guilt and do everything possible to make Ukraine a NATO member. We must apply supreme efforts. We shouldn’t be afraid of Moscow because it will never leave us alone whether we join NATO or proclaim our love for balalaikas. Ukraine and Georgia must become the 30th and 31st NATO members, respectively. That's how I see my goal as a politician,” Herashchenko said.
Montenegro officially became a NATO member on June 5. This is the first alliance expansion since 2009 when Albania and Croatia joined.
The nearest country on the waiting list for NATO entrance is Macedonia, which got the Membership Action Plan (MAP) in 1999. Bosnia and Herzegovina also got the MAP in 2010 but they have not activated theirs yet.
Ukraine’s current government proclaimed joining NATO as its strategic goal but no action has been taken in this direction so far. At the same time, the Military Doctrine of Ukraine provides for the development of the Armed Forces of Ukraine according to Western standards and the achievement of compatibility with the armed forces of NATO countries.