Ukraine's MFA calls Moscow's demands to refuse NATO entry "complete nonsense"

The Ukrainian Ministry of Foreign Affairs reacted sharply to a statement made by Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Grushko, who said that Ukraine's refusal to join NATO was one of the key conditions for resolving the conflict. Georgiy Tikhy, a representative of Ukraine's foreign ministry, called these demands "complete nonsense," reports NewsBox.

Earlier, Alexander Grushko stated that Russia would seek "ironclad international legal guarantees" to prevent Ukraine from joining NATO and push for this to become the policy of the alliance itself. According to him, the decision made at the 2008 NATO Bucharest Summit on the potential membership of Ukraine and Georgia in the alliance was "catastrophic for European security." Grushko also claimed that Ukraine's potential NATO membership "precludes achieving peace" and "hinders the establishment of any security architecture," writes BBC.

"Oh, come on, a North Korea ally is issuing ultimatums to NATO. Complete nonsense. No one gave Moscow a say in this matter," stated Georgiy Tikhy, commenting on the Russian diplomat's words.

The sharp reaction of Ukraine's MFA underscores Kyiv's firm stance on its sovereignty and its right to independently determine the direction of its foreign policy, including the possibility of joining NATO. The Ukrainian side has repeatedly declared its aspiration to become part of Euro-Atlantic structures, considering it a matter of national security.