“Don't repeat Merkel's mistake, let Ukraine join NATO”: Kuleba appeals to Germany

This is reported by Bild.

Kuleba noted that discussions with the German authorities are ongoing at all levels to ensure that the country does not impede Ukraine's accession to NATO.

"Do not repeat the mistake that Chancellor Merkel made in Bucharest in 2008, when she strongly opposed any progress on Ukraine's path to NATO membership," Kuleba said.

He noted that this decision made it possible for Russia to invade Georgia and eventually illegally annex Crimea. According to the foreign minister, if Ukraine had joined the Alliance in 2014, the annexation of the peninsula would not have happened, as well as the war in Donbas and the full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

However, Kuleba emphasized that Ukraine does not expect to join NATO during a full-scale war.

"But after the war, it would be suicidal for Europe not to accept Ukraine into NATO," he emphasized.

The foreign minister noted that Ukraine's non-NATO status would mean that war would still be possible. He emphasized that the country's accession to the Alliance is the only way to close the door to Russian aggression against Europe and the Euro-Atlantic area as a whole.

• On June 29, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said it was necessary to be prepared for a prolonged war between Russia and Ukraine.