“It is time” to talk about specifics of Ukraine's NATO membership - Ambassador Markarova

Now is the time to start discussing the right steps regarding Ukraine's membership in the North Atlantic Treaty Organization.

Ukrainian Ambassador to the USA Oksana Markarova stated this on the Face The Nation show on CBS News, Ukrinform reports.

"We all look forward to the summit (NATO - ed.). Ukraine has NATO aspirations, Transatlantic aspirations in our hearts, in our Constitution, and the majority of people support them. (…) We believe it is time to start discussing some specific steps in this regard," she said.

According to Markarova, the Ukrainian side understands the current limitations on joining NATO against the background of the ongoing war.

"But I think at this moment, after this horrible violation of international law, after Russia attacked us completely unprovoked, when we were not part of NATO, after historic decisions on Finland and Sweden, it's time for everyone to realize that it’s good versus evil, and we need to be members of NATO, as much as NATO needs Ukraine also because we have a lot to add to NATO," she said.

As Ukrinform reported earlier, President Volodymyr Zelensky previously stated that Ukraine is waiting for a political invitation to the Alliance at the NATO summit in Vilnius.

He also stressed that Ukraine should receive effective security guarantees even before joining the Alliance.