Ukrainian oligarch Victor Pinchuk believes that Ukraine is the time to abandon the European integration aspirations, as well as to put an end to the NATO membership. He wrote about this in his article for the Wall Street Journal reports “Explorer”.
In his opinion, before you can strive in the EU, you first need to make the country attractive for Europeans, which would correspond to the European level.
“We can build a European country, to be a privileged partner (the EU – ed.) and only then to speak about the accession (to the EU – ed.),” – says Pinchuk.
Moreover, he believes that Ukraine should abandon the idea of NATO membership, to take a position of neutrality.
“And finally, let us recognize that Ukraine will not join NATO in the short or medium term. The offer is not on the table, and if it were, then it could lead to an international crisis of unprecedented magnitude. At the moment we must pursue alternative security system to recognize the neutrality of our short-term Outlook for the future”, – said the oligarch.
Earlier, President Petro Poroshenko said that Ukraine has already passed the point of no return for European integration. He expressed confidence that in the future citizens of Ukraine will be presented in the European institutions, and the Ukrainian language will become one of the official languages of the European Union.
“We all strive to ensure that Ukraine has become a real success story. I am confident that we will succeed. I am sure that one of the best Ukrainian citizens will take their seats in the European Parliament, the European Commission, European institutions. This will be the day when Ukraine will take its rightful place among the countries – members of EU”, – said the President.
As was stated by the Deputy head of the presidential Administration Konstantin Eliseev, already in the beginning of next year the Netherlands to ratify the Association Agreement of Ukraine with the European Union.
Also earlier it was reported that 49.1% of respondents polled by the Kiev international Institute of sociology, speaking for Ukraine’s accession to the European Union and 39.2% – for joining NATO.
In turn, the General staff said that Ukraine is able to join NATO in four years. The chief of the General staff Viktor Muzhenko acknowledged that the Ukrainian army gained the necessary military experience and military forces now are actively preparing for possible NATO membership.
