Mark Rutte considers it untimely to discuss Ukraine's accession to NATO

NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte has said that it is untimely to discuss Ukraine's accession to the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO).

“It is first necessary for Ukraine to have the best possible position when the negotiations begin and the decisions taken as a result of these discussions,” Rutte said, Caliber.Az reports, citing Russian media.

“A peace agreement or anything else should be long-term, concrete, stipulating that such a situation will not happen again. For me, this is the most important thing, and then we can easily brainstorm about the Westward path of Ukraine and how to achieve these goals,” Rutte said.

To note, Ukraine's integration into NATO has been a focal point of international discussions, especially following Russia's invasion in 2022. 

In 2023, NATO established the NATO-Ukraine Council, replacing the NATO-Ukraine Commission. This change signifies a strengthening of political ties, with Ukraine participating as an equal alongside NATO member states. The Council can be convened by the Secretary General or any participant, including Ukraine, for crisis consultations.

Public sentiment in Ukraine strongly favours NATO membership. A survey from October 2023 indicates that 89% of Ukrainians would support joining the military alliance in a referendum, marking the highest level of support in the country's history.

NATO has implemented the Comprehensive Assistance Package (CAP) for Ukraine, providing practical support in two main areas: urgently needed, non-lethal military assistance based on Ukraine’s requests, and longer-term capacity-building projects designed to assist Ukraine with its defence and security sector reforms and post-war recovery.

By Khagan Isayev