White House reaffirms Ukraine's right to decide on NATO membership

21.12.2021 09:40

Ukrinform

The United States believes that Ukraine's right to determine its prospects for NATO membership, as well as the Allies' decision to accept new countries to join, is in line with European security.

This was stated by White House Spokeswoman Jen Psaki during a briefing in Washington on Monday, an Ukrinform correspondent reports.

"The president’s view and the administration’s view is that the right of sovereign nations to choose their partnerships and alliances is a core principle of European security," Psaki said when asked to comment on Washington's response to Russia's view of European security.

The White House spokeswoman stressed that the United States had reaffirmed this position multiple times.

"We support the aspirations of countries to join NATO and meet specific requirements. Am NATO's relationship with Ukraine is a matter of Ukraine and 30 NATO allies," said Psaki.

As Ukrinform reported earlier, on December 17, the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs published a draft of the so-called "security guarantees" that Vladimir Putin demands from NATO, which Moscow also handed over to Washington. At one point, Russia called on Allies to commit themselves to "ruling out further NATO enlargement, including the accession of Ukraine and other nations."

In addition, Russia suggested that the United States "refrain from conducting any military activities in Ukraine, as well as other countries in Eastern Europe, the Caucasus, and Central Asia." Putin also demands that the allies refrain from conducting military exercises at a certain distance from the borders of Russia and NATO member states.