Posted on 06/05/2019 1:19:46 PM PDT by CondoleezzaProtege
BRUSSELS -- Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy has promised to hold a referendum on NATO membership -- a move strongly opposed by Moscow -- as the country embarks on a path of European and Euro-Atlantic integration.
The recently elected Zelenskiy said Ukraine and its people had the right as a sovereign nation to choose the alliances they desire, regardless of outside opinions.
Fighting between government forces and Russia-backed separatists in eastern Ukraine has killed some 13,000 people since April 2014, shortly after Russia seized control of Ukraine's Crimean Peninsula.
NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg has called Ukraine a "highly valued partner."
But Zelenskiy...acknowledged that Brussels had signaled disappointment with Ukraine's democratic failures and the slow pace of reforms.
"I don't want to be one of those perceived by European countries as someone who promises reforms and then fails to perform the task," he said. "I know the conditions that come with the support and we are ready."
(Excerpt) Read more at rferl.org ...
There’s a mistake waiting to happen. We have to defend that shi* of a country? And Poroshenko made it even worse.
Ukraine would have to split into two for that to happen.
Zelenskiy was voted in as the anti-Poroshenko. We shall see if he delivers.
I will predict the United States leaves NATO before Ukraine joins it.
We shouldn’t be a part of any military alliance with Turkey in it.
Germany and Turkey need to leave NATO then we can discuss Ukraine.
And GBush I said we would ot take one step closer to Moscow.
This is not a good idea.
Would they allow the Southeast vote?
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.