The Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine, Andriy Yermak, and the former NATO Secretary-General, Anders Fogh Rasmussen, participated in a panel discussion titled "Security and Euro-Atlantic Integration of Ukraine" during the Copenhagen Summit for Democracy, where they presented the official report of the International Working Group on Security Issues and Euro-Atlantic Integration of Ukraine.
The head of the President's Office emphasized that the report recommends inviting Ukraine to the NATO summit in Washington and considering specific terms of Ukraine's membership in the Alliance.
"We need concrete support from the world and strong steps. We need not short-term security guarantees, but long-term ones. And the strongest guarantee is NATO membership. The will of the Ukrainian people is to be part of the EU and NATO. Now is a critical moment, and Ukraine needs support, motivating our heroes who are defending not only Ukraine but democracy worldwide," he stressed.
The International Working Group proposes lifting all restrictions on the supply of conventional weapons to Ukraine and their use against military targets of the aggressor country.
Ukraine and partner countries should consolidate bilateral security agreements within the framework of an international treaty.
The report of the International Working Group proposes that NATO member countries spend 0.25% of their GDP on military assistance to Ukraine and unlock frozen Russian assets worth $300 billion to support our country.
Anders Fogh Rasmussen noted that the report prepared by the working group contains three specific points to assist Ukraine: lifting all restrictions on the supply of weapons, deploying NATO missile defense systems along the eastern border, and inviting Ukraine to the Alliance at the summit in Washington.
"I don't think we should accept the argument that we cannot invite Ukraine while the war is ongoing. If we accept this argument, we de facto give Putin an incentive to continue the war," the former NATO Secretary-General emphasized.
Andriy Yermak added that the key conclusion of the report is very simple: Ukraine must receive an invitation to join the Alliance in the near future.
"Many consider this impossible as long as the war continues. This is not the case. With proper determination, anything is possible. We have proven this more than once," concluded the head of the President's Office.
