RT.com
04 Feb 2023, 23:43 GMT+10
Kiev's membership in the US-led military bloc is not on the table for now, the French Foreign Ministry spokeswoman said
Ukraine's accession to NATO is not being discussed right now, given the ongoing hostilities between Moscow and Kiev, the French Foreign Ministry spokeswoman said on Saturday.
Speaking to the Russian RTVI Channel, Anne-Claire Legendre was asked about Ukraine's bids to join the European Union and the US-led military alliance. She described the EU's decision to grant Ukraine candidate status in June 2022 as "very important," sending a signal of "serious political support" for Kiev's course and reflecting Ukrainians' desire to embrace European values.
However, she refrained naming exact dates for Kiev to become part of the EU, saying Brussels is formulating a roadmap which could take "more or less time." The spokeswoman noted that EU members are seeking to "move towards a very specific cooperation with our Ukrainian friends."
The spokeswoman's comments came after the European Commission determined on Thursday that Ukraine was only at an "early stage" of readiness to meet EU standards in many key areas. The bloc's top executive body notably highlighted Kiev's shortcomings in labor and gender equality legislation.
Legendre also signaled that Ukraine should not expect to join NATO in the near future, cautioning that accession is "is not on the agenda now. There is a war going on now." However, she stressed that the alliance still adheres to its open-door policy, citing the 1975 Helsinki Accords, which stipulate that every state is free to choose its own allies.
Ukraine's potential accession to NATO has long been a key security concern for Russia, and was cited as one of the factors prompting Moscow to launch its military operation in February 2022.
In December 2021, before large-scale hostilities broke out, Moscow submitted draft documents on security guarantees to NATO and the US, demanding that Ukraine be barred from entering the alliance, and insisting that the bloc itself should retreat to the borders of 1997. The initiative, however, was rebuffed.
(RT.com)
Get a daily dose of Baton Rouge Post news through our daily email, its complimentary and keeps you fully up to date with world and business news as well.
Publish news of your business, community or sports group, personnel appointments, major event and more by submitting a news release to Baton Rouge Post.
More InformationFRANKLIN, Tennessee: Hundreds of thousands of Nissan and Infiniti vehicles are being recalled across the United States due to a potential...
REDMOND, Washington: Microsoft is the latest tech giant to announce significant job cuts, as the financial strain of building next-generation...
LONDON UK - U.S. stock markets were closed on Friday for Independence Day. Global Forex Markets Wrap Up Friday with Greeback Comeback...
SANTA CLARA, California: Nvidia came within a whisker of making financial history on July 3, briefly surpassing Apple's all-time market...
SACRAMENTO, California: California's multibillion-dollar farms are facing a growing crisis—not from drought or pests, but from a sudden...
WASHINGTON, D.C.: President Donald Trump says the United States could soon reach a trade deal with India. He believes this deal would...
VILNIUS, Lithuania – A growing body of research suggests that selectively restricting a single nutrient in our diet could have profound...
Birmingham [UK], July 6 (ANI): Indian bowling coach Morne Morkel hailed skipper Shubman Gill after a record-breaking outing at Birmingham,...
The party believes the criticism of the notorious Soviet leader by his successor Nikita Khrushchev was politically motivated ...
The virus was likely first developed at the University of North Carolina, the analyst claims Covid-19 was almost certainly developed...
The billionaire has vowed to give freedom back to the people and accused the US elites of bankrupting the nation ...
Washington [US], July 5 (ANI): Australian actor Julian McMahon, best known for his roles in 'Charmed', 'Nip/Tuck', and the 'Fantastic...