MFA responds to Hungary’s claim that Ukraine needs ‘Russia’s approval’ to join NATO

Ukraine does not need Russia’s permission to become a NATO member, and its membership will only strengthen the Alliance and prevent Russian aggression in Europe in the future.

The relevant statement was made by Spokesperson for the Ukrainian Foreign Affairs Ministry Oleg Nikolenko on Facebook, an Ukrinform correspondent reports.

Nikolenko emphasized that Ukraine has a sovereign right to freely choose security measures, and this right has been repeatedly confirmed at the level of all NATO Member Countries, including Hungary.

“We do not need Russia’s permission to become a member of the Alliance. At the same time, it is dangerous, when certain Hungarian politicians try to make the security of the Euro-Atlantic space dependent on Moscow’s whims,” Nikolenko noted.

In his words, there are no objective reasons that would hinder Ukraine’s accession to NATO. Ukraine’s NATO membership will only strengthen the Alliance and prevent the repetition of Russian aggression in Europe in the future, Nikolenko stressed.

A reminder that Deputy Speaker of the Parliament of Hungary Dóra Dúró stated earlier that Ukraine’s NATO membership would be possible only if Russia approves this step in the form of an agreement.