On September 30, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Speaker of the Verkhovna Rada Ruslan Stefanchuk and Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal signed a Joint Appeal to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization calling for a decision on Ukraine's membership in NATO as an integral element of ensuring the security of Ukrainians and citizens throughout the Euro-Atlantic space.
It is stated in the Appeal that Ukraine has been and remains a reliable and predictable partner of NATO, fully sharing Euro-Atlantic values and being committed to the fundamental principles of Euro-Atlantic integration and deep democratic reforms based on the Charter on a Distinctive Partnership between the North Atlantic Treaty Organization and Ukraine, as well as Annual National Programs under the auspices of the NATO-Ukraine Commission.
It is also noted that today, Ukraine and the entire Euro-Atlantic community face unprecedented security challenges of a global nature. The war waged by the Russian Federation to destroy the Ukrainian people and the Ukrainian state threatens the destruction of the world and Euro-Atlantic system.
“The Russian authorities have clearly and unequivocally demonstrated their intentions to intensify hostilities through mobilization, make another attempt to annex the territory of Ukraine and continue their aggressive policy, in particular by holding so-called "referendums" and amending the constitution of the Russian Federation. Russia's energy and nuclear blackmail has become a permanent fact,” the Appeal reads.
Under such conditions, according to the President, the Speaker and the Prime Minister, maintaining a stable and predictable global security environment based on the principles of the Charter of the United Nations and the provisions of the North Atlantic Treaty is possible only if joint efforts are made to preserve peace.
“To this end, it is necessary to take proactive measures to deter and prevent any actions regarding the illegal annexation of the territory of Ukraine and the implementation of threats to use nuclear weapons,” the document reads.
It is also stated that today, Ukraine ensures on the battlefield the peace and security on the Eastern flank of the Alliance, and the Ukrainian citizens demonstrate an unprecedentedly high level of support regarding our country's accession to NATO, which is evidence of the country's deep understanding of the Alliance's role as the most effective security organization of our time.
“We appeal to make the decision regarding Ukraine's membership in the Alliance, as an integral part of ensuring the security of Ukrainians and citizens of the entire Euro-Atlantic area,” the Appeal reads.
At the same time, the President, the Speaker and the Prime Minister propose to urgently consider the proposals initiated by Ukraine regarding a multi-level system of guaranteeing security based on multilateral and bilateral agreements of Ukraine, which are aimed at bringing Ukraine's defense potential to a level that will ensure a guaranteed deterrence of Russian aggression, strengthening of military support to Ukraine in order to build up its defense capabilities, facilitate the development of its defense industry and significantly increase the scope and volume of individual and collective training of the Ukrainian military.
“Implementation of these proposals before Ukraine’s accession to NATO will ensure proactive deterrence of armed aggression against our country in order to end the war as soon as possible and prevent potential armed aggression in the future,” the document reads.
The full text of the Joint Appeal can be found in the annex.