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Kiev Not Counting on NATO Intervention, Understands NATO Not Sending Troops – Ambassador

© NATOKiev is not expecting NATO to intervene in the Ukrainian crisis and understands that the alliance cannot send any troops, Ukrainian Ambassador and NATO Envoy Ihor Dolhov said
Kiev is not expecting NATO to intervene in the Ukrainian crisis and understands that the alliance cannot send any troops, Ukrainian Ambassador and NATO Envoy Ihor Dolhov said - Sputnik International
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Kiev is not expecting NATO to intervene in the Ukrainian crisis and understands that the alliance cannot send any troops, Ukrainian Ambassador and NATO Envoy Ihor Dolhov said Friday.

BRUSSELS, August 29 (RIA Novosti) – Kiev is not expecting NATO to intervene in the Ukrainian crisis and understands that the alliance cannot send any troops, Ukrainian Ambassador and NATO Envoy Ihor Dolhov said Friday.

“We’re not looking at this option [of direct NATO intervention]. We need more aid, including military. It’s clear that NATO cannot send Ukraine any troops, we’re not expecting this from NATO member countries. We can defend ourselves, but we need help in order to stop the aggression,” Dolhov said.

On August 29, the Ukrainian Cabinet submitted a bill to the country’s parliament to change Ukraine’s non-aligned bloc status and renew its path toward becoming a member of NATO. However, internally, Ukraine is still divided in terms of how it views the prospect of being part of NATO. The eastern regions of the country regard NATO membership as a threat, while the western regions consider it a chance to be integrated into the West.

Ukraine’s position on the matter has fluctuated through the years, as previous president Viktor Yanukovych saw Ukraine as a non-aligned state, while his predecessor Viktor Yushchenko strived for NATO membership. In 2008, NATO declined Ukraine’s application to join the organization.

NATO regulations do not allow the countries in territorial disputes to become members, which is the case with Ukraine, as it refuses to acknowledge Crimea’s reunification with Russia that took place in March.

Attitude to Ukraine’s potential joining NATO reflects a number of controversies between its eastern and western regions: the former ones  tend to be pro-Russian and regard this possibility as a threat , whereas the latter consider it to be a chance to get integrated into the Euro-Atlantic alliance.

Viktor Yushchenko, Ukraine’s third president (2005-2010) set a course for Ukraine to join NATO, while his successor Viktor Yanukovych (2010-2014) formalized in legislation Ukraine’s  out-of-bloc status.

The country’s authorities stated in spring and summer that there was no question of Ukraine being a NATO member, saying there was no consensus on the issue among the public.

On August 29 Ukraine’s Cabinet of Ministers introduced a bill to Rada revoking Ukraine’s out-of-bloc status and resuming the course to join NATO. The alliance stated more than once that there was yet no question of Ukraine becoming a NATO member under debate.

In 2008 NATO countries rejected Ukraine’s application to get a membership roadmap.

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