The portal writes that NATO diplomats are looking for ways to put Kiev on the path to membership in the bloc by forming a Ukraine-NATO council, but have not considered the option of expedited joining the country’s ranks. Euractiv.
According to the portal, the establishment of the council acceptable at the meeting of the foreign ministers of the alliance countries in Oslo next week. This body needs to be a step towards “strengthening political partnership”.
Sources report that Ukraine could become a full member of the body and stop participating in alliance meetings as an invited country.
Under the new status, Kiev will be able to convene a council at its discretion and directly inform NATO members about the situation in the conflict zone. In addition, the new format may include more active intelligence sharing, joint exercises, defense industry investments and interoperability studies.
According to the plan, these steps will allow Ukraine to quickly approach the alliance’s standards for entering the alliance.
Victoria Nuland, Former Under-Secretary of State for Political Affairs statedHe said that Ukraine should expect a clearer stance from NATO member states within the framework of the NATO summit to be held in Lithuania this summer.