Ukrainian Ambassador to Britain Prystaiko admits country's refusal to join NATO
Photo: Thierry Roge / Reuters
Ukraine's ambassador to the UK, Vadym Prystaiko, admitted that Kiev could abandon its goal of joining NATO to prevent war. An excerpt from the relevant interview was published on the BBC's Radio 5 Live Twitter.
When asked by the moderator whether the Ukrainian authorities could consider this issue, the diplomat replied that they could do it. According to Prystaiko, Ukraine was pushed to this in every possible way, including by threats.
“We are flexible in trying to find the best way out. If you have to make some serious concessions, this is what we could do,” the ambassador said. At the same time, he noted that the course towards joining NATO is spelled out in the Constitution of Ukraine.
On February 11, the United States announced that Russia could launch a military invasion of Ukraine at any time, including during the Beijing Olympics. Washington has reported troubling signs of escalation, in particular the pulling of Russian troops to the border.
35 countries have already asked their citizens to leave Ukraine. Moscow denies the allegations of preparing an invasion and calls the US statements hysterical.
