Kiev’s long-term lobbying campaign to join NATO is doomed to fail because the US has already decided to block its membership, a Ukrainian lawmaker has claimed ahead of negotiations between Russia and the military bloc this week.
Speaking to TV channel Nash on Monday, Nestor Shufrich, an elected representative from the largest non-government party in the country’s parliament, Opposition Platform – For Life, said that he “had an opportunity to communicate with the direct leadership of two European countries and with people close to the authorities of another state that is a member of the G7.”
According to him, “everyone said unequivocally – all three [nations] are NATO countries – that the Americans and the Russians have agreed on everything,” he alleged. “In principle, we understand that … first: Ukraine will never be a member of NATO, never at all.”
The MP also cast doubt on claims from the military bloc’s Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, who has insisted the door to accession remains open, arguing that “he must be a diplomat, he plays [the role] beautifully.” According to Shufrich, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky understands himself that Kiev will not join NATO during his time in office.