NATO ministers acknowledge Ukraine should have a place in the Alliance

UK Defence Secretary John Healey and German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius have acknowledged that Ukraine is a contributor to European security and should have a place within NATO.

Source: European Pravda, citing the ministers at a press conference at NATO headquarters following a meeting of the Ukraine Defence Contact Group

Details: Asked how NATO's perception of Ukraine's role has changed after the recent drone strike on Poland, and whether there is now a growing understanding that Ukraine is a contributor to collective security and "should have a place in NATO", Healey gave a direct answer.

Quote from Healey: "The simple answer to your question is yes. [...] Ukraine is increasingly recognised and understood to play a part in the training of other NATO nations' forces."

More details: Healey said the attack on Poland had been a turning point in NATO's perception of Ukraine.

Quote: "In recent moves to respond to incursions [of Russian drones – ed.] into NATO airspace, Ukraine has stepped up, responded in practice, and I think is helping to demonstrate more clearly to more people how Ukraine is fighting for its future. But the unique leading combat experience that it now has means that it can already and will in the future make a huge contribution to the security of Europe more generally."

More details: German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius backed his UK counterpart up, saying that he "couldn't agree more".

The United Kingdom has traditionally supported NATO membership for Ukraine, while Germany has long been viewed as more cautious on the issue.

Background: It was reported earlier that NATO's attitude towards Ukraine has shifted following the incursion of Russian drones into Polish airspace.

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