General Holopatyuk: We must find out what NATO we need before deciding on membership

Before deciding on Ukraine’s membership in NATO, we have to determine what kind of the Alliance we need, said Leonid Holopatyuk, head of the military cooperation and peacekeeping operations of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, during the 8th Kyiv Security Forum organized by the Arseniy Yatsenyuk Open Ukraine Foundation.

In his speech the General noted that for the time being there is no alternative to the collective security system anymore, but added: "When we talk about accession and NATO membership, first of all we should think on what kind of NATO we need". L. Holopatyuk said that quite well-known 95 airborne brigade that participated in all possible trainings over the past 8-10 years, trained abroad with NATO partner states, became one of the most commendable brigades during clashes with Russian terrorist units at the Donbas. "It's a fact. And now ask them about the NATO access. They do not hurry back. Why?  Military experts from various countries come to us to study and ask: "Guys teach us how to resist the hybrid war that Russia has launched,” - he said.

A representative of the General Staff said that the many preparatory steps made by Ukrainian authorities to enhance cooperation with NATO had no result because of the lack of awareness of people in this regard. "We completely failed the information policy of informing our society. This is not agitation and propaganda. Ii is necessary to tell everyone about the Alliance without omitting the negative things that are happening in NATO today,” – he is convinced.

"What did NATO propose us today? It was again about trust funds and advisory assistance. We appreciate it. But it’s fairly nothing. So before deciding on the issue of membership, we should ask and inform the Ukrainians,” - said L.Holopatyuk.

For your information:
The annual international event ‘Kyiv Security Forum’, established by the Arseniy Yatsenyuk Open Ukraine Foundation in 2007 is a platform for discussion of the most pressing issues concerning the security in Europe and the Black Sea region. The Forum is aimed at promoting security cooperation between the European Union and the Black Sea Region, raising awareness of the development of security among key players and strengthening the role of independent and non-governmental actors in solving security problems in Europe.