The key objective of the International Task Force on Security and Euro-Atlantic Integration of Ukraine co-chaired by Head of the Presidential Office Andriy Yermak and NATO Secretary General in 2009-2014 Anders Fogh Rasmussen will be to prepare a comprehensive vision of Ukraine's Euro-Atlantic security integration, including future NATO membership. This was stated by Andriy Yermak at a briefing in the Office of the President.
"The purpose of this new group is primarily to work with NATO member states, with the expert community, the political environment to create an atmosphere that would help us move forward on this path. Ukraine has ambitious expectations for this year's NATO Washington Summit and the steps that would lead us to full membership," the Head of the Presidential Office said.
He noted that the process of concluding bilateral agreements on security commitments with the signatories to the G7 Vilnius Declaration is part of Ukraine's path to full membership in NATO. According to Andriy Yermak, the system of security agreements creates specific obligations in case of possible future aggressions and will strengthen our defense capabilities, however, only full membership in the Alliance will provide Ukraine with reliable security.
According to the Head of the Office of the President, the new International Task Force should formulate and advocate for a systemic vision that will help Ukraine move towards Euro-Atlantic integration.
"We want the issue of Ukraine's future membership in NATO to become a key topic of discussion in the expert community. It is no secret that there are politicians who are not ready to endorse the invitation to Ukraine today, but we have time to change this," said Andriy Yermak.
For his part, Anders Fogh Rasmussen noted that this task force will work on defining the conditions necessary for Ukraine to receive an invitation to join NATO and the timing of their implementation.
In his view, the statement that Ukraine's invitation to join the Alliance cannot take place until the war is over is dangerous because it gives Russia an incentive to continue its aggression to prevent Ukraine from joining NATO. Conversely, inviting Ukraine to join the Alliance opens the door to peace.
"That is why we have to extend an invitation to Ukraine in the near future. To show that we are sincere when we say that Ukraine will join NATO, that Ukraine is part of NATO and will be an integral part of the European Union as well," Anders Fogh Rasmussen said.
The former NATO Secretary General emphasized that "gray" zones are zones of danger.
"Ukraine is a bastion of defense against Russia. Ukraine now has a very strong army, and it can contribute to NATO and strengthen it greatly," he said.
Andriy Yermak also expressed his belief that through its struggle, the Ukrainian nation is already doing everything necessary to convince NATO to extend an invitation to membership. And now it is time for politicians, MPs, ministers, experts, and journalists to act and contribute to the process of Ukraine's Euro-Atlantic integration.