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Ukraine continues to fight not only for its own security, but also for the security of the entire European continent. Despite statements by US officials that Ukraine’s accession to NATO is “unrealistic”, Kyiv’s position remains unchanged – Ukraine will become part of the Alliance and the European Union. This was stated by Ukrainian Defence Minister Rustem Umerov after the Ramstein meeting in Brussels.
Ukraine’s NATO membership: political statements vs. security assistance
When asked by journalists about the words of US Secretary of Defence Pete Hegseth, who doubted that Ukraine could join NATO and return to the 2014 borders, Umerov answered clearly:
“We want to be a NATO country. We will be a NATO country. We will be an EU country. We maintain our defence capability, and we are capable of doing so. Therefore, our priorities remain unchanged. All political statements have been made for 33 years, so we need to get used to them. We will draw conclusions together with the people,” the Defence Minister stressed.
European Peacekeepers in Ukraine: Reality or Prospect?
Umerov confirmed that the issue of a possible peacekeeping mission is being actively discussed with partners. According to him, the idea is receiving a positive response in Europe, and negotiations are currently underway on the formats and modalities of its implementation.
Can Ukraine fight without the US?
The defence minister assured that even if US aid is reduced, Ukraine will not stop fighting and has sufficient strength to resist:
“We are capable and we will win this war. We are deterring Russia and ensuring a significant part of our security ourselves. 55% of military assistance is provided by Ukraine’s own resources, 25% is supported by European partners, and another 20% is lethal weapons from the United States. We are grateful to every country that supports us,” Umerov stressed.
Today, a meeting of the Ukraine Defence Contact Group was held in Brussels, and tomorrow NATO Defence Ministers will hold a meeting of the North Atlantic Council and an informal meeting of the NATO-Ukraine Council. Ukraine continues its active diplomatic efforts to strengthen its security and integration into Euro-Atlantic structures.
