German ambassador: Ukraine is vital to Europe's defence, and its role in security revolves around NATO

Germany's ambassador to Ukraine, Boris Ruge, has said that Ukraine is already contributing to the joint defence of Europe and expressed the conviction that the European security system with Ukrainian involvement will revolve around NATO.

Source: European Pravda, citing the ambassador's remarks in an interview

Details: Ruge noted that NATO leaders determined at the Washington summit that Ukraine's future is in the Alliance.

Quote: "So when this will happen – again, it's a political issue. The difference that we have today, at least from a German point of view, is: it's very clear that Ukraine is not just the recipient of our assistance. Ukraine is also a big element of the defence of Europe today. We need Ukraine, with its armed forces and its competence in modern warfare, to be part of our defence."

Details: Asked how he sees Europe's security structure and Ukraine's role in it, Ruge replied: "I think it revolves around NATO, in my mind."

Quote: "I'm a former NATO person, so maybe that's logical, but NATO is the organisation that is in charge of collective defence."

Details: Ruge acknowledged that the US's role in NATO is changing, particularly with regard to changes in the priorities for deploying American troops.

Quote: "So Europeans will have to step up, we'll have to play more of a role. But in my mind, Ukraine is already very, very close to NATO. We have the NATO-Ukraine Council. We do a lot of things together. We have the joint analysis, training and education centre in Bydgoszcz in Poland. We are learning from Ukraine today when it comes to unmanned systems."

Details: Ruge added that he does not know exactly when Ukraine will become a full member of NATO.

Quote: "But we want – from a German point of view – Ukraine to be as close to NATO as possible, because in reality you were already part of our collective defence."

Background:

• Estonian Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna has expressed the view that admitting Ukraine into NATO could stop the spiral of war that began in 2008 with Russia's attack on Georgia.
• Ukraine's Ambassador to NATO Aliona Hetmanchuk said in early July that Ukraine's goal of joining the Alliance remains unchanged, and that an increasing number of countries understand that having Ukraine as a member would be of greater benefit to NATO itself.

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