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NATO Not Obliged to Protect Ukraine, Not Going to Discuss Membership at Upcoming Summit

© Photo : NATO photosNATO headquarters in Brussels.
NATO headquarters in Brussels. - Sputnik International
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NATO allies do not intend to discuss the status of their relations with Ukraine or take the responsibility for the country's protection, but will announce consulting and financial aid to Ukrainian military, a high-ranking NATO official told journalists.

MOSCOW, August 28 (RIA Novosti) - NATO allies do not intend to discuss the status of their relations with Ukraine or take the responsibility for the country's protection, but will announce consulting and financial aid to Ukrainian military, a high-ranking NATO official told journalists.

"In Wales, there will be an announcement on the form of military consultations and financial support for Ukrainian military forces on behalf of the alliance. There will be no obligations to protect Ukraine," the diplomat said, adding that since Ukraine was not a member of the 28-party alliance, NATO had "no obligations to react to the violation of its [Ukraine's] sovereignty."

Such relations satisfy all parties, and no change to the relations between NATO and Ukraine are on the agenda, he said.

"NATO membership comes from a country. NATO does not address Sweden, Finland or Ukraine and say, 'What do you think?' It always comes from a country. The Ukrainians said it was not on their agenda. We are not looking for new members, new members are looking for us," the diplomat said.

Ukraine's Prime Minister Arseny Yatsenyuk said Wednesday Kiev expected "practical assistance and monumental decisions from our Western partners at the summit," which will take place in Newport, Wales, on September 4-5.

NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen said in June that the alliance planned to create new trust funds, aimed at long-term aid to Ukraine, and the command and control of the national army in particular.

Since mid-April the Ukrainian government has been conducting a military operation in the east of Ukraine, aimed to suppress independence supporters, who refused to acknowledge the new government that came to power after the February 22 coup.

According to the United Nations, more than two thousand people have died as a result of the confrontation, and over 4,950 people have sustained injuries in the fighting.

Moscow has repeatedly condemned the operation and urged for a ceasefire to prevent further casualties.

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