Ukraine in Arabic | Ukraine’s NATO, EU membership is impossible, German FM said
KYIV/Ukraine in Arabic/ The question if Ukraine could join the European Union in the near future isn't relevant yet, German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier said.
He said this in an interview with German magazine Der Spiegel.
“Modernization of Ukraine will be a long-term project. Today, there is no point in speculating about an EU accession," the German Foreign Ministry in Twitter quotes Steinmeier as saying.
Besides, the ministry added that after the agreement on new government's coalition in Ukraine has been approved, Steinmeier reaffirmed Germany's support for Ukraine reform efforts.
"I think that the partnership between Ukraine and NATO is possible, but not the membership," Steinmeier said.
He said that it was unrealistic to think that Ukraine might join the European Union in the short term. "This is why today there is no point in discussing Ukraine's membership of the EU," the minister said, calling on the Kyiv authorities to launch the necessary reforms.
"More than 20 years after gaining independence, the people of Ukraine deserve that their government finally begins to crack down on corruption and mismanagement and carry out reforms in deeds," Steinmeier said.
In August, Ukrainian Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk introduced legislation to the country’s parliament to drop its “non-aligned bloc” status, starting a campaign to join NATO. However, the bloc's regulations do not allow countries involved in territorial disputes to become its members, while Kiev refuses to acknowledge Crimea’s reunification with Russia.
In September, Ukraine and the EU parliament ratified the economic and political parts of the Association Agreement. That same month, Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko unveiled a plan of reforms he wanted to implement until 2020. Poroshenko said his 'Strategy-2020' plan would help to implement reforms and special programs that will make Ukraine eligible for EU membership within six years.