Kiev, Ukraine - The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine has declared that until the armed conflict on its territory is resolved, the entry of foreign troops, specifically those from NATO member states, will not be permitted. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmitry Kuleba made this statement, as reported by "Yevropeyskaya Pravda," emphasizing Ukraine's determination to handle the situation independently.
Photo: Dmitry Kuleba
"We do not need foreign troops on our soil until the end of the armed conflict in Ukraine. Moreover, we are not requesting their deployment. Instead, we ask for weapons to fight ourselves," stated Minister Kuleba.
He further clarified that once Ukraine becomes a member of NATO, its armed forces will be available to support other alliance countries in their defense efforts.
Addressing the delivery of F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine, Minister Kuleba assured that the process will proceed, but it necessitates proper training and the resolution of related issues before implementation.
Minister Kuleba emphasized that while Ukraine's NATO membership cannot immediately end the ongoing conflict, it will serve as a deterrent against future wars.
As Ukraine continues to navigate through the complexities of the conflict, the government remains focused on finding diplomatic solutions and pursuing its aspirations for closer ties with NATO while actively engaging in the restoration of peace and stability in the region.
NATO has intervened in several notable conflicts and crises around the world.
Some of the key interventions include:
1. Kosovo: In 1999, NATO launched a military intervention in Kosovo to stop the humanitarian crisis and ethnic cleansing perpetrated by the forces of then-Yugoslavia President Slobodan Milosevic. The intervention ultimately led to the establishment of a UN administration in Kosovo.
2. Afghanistan: Following the 9/11 terrorist attacks in 2001, NATO invoked Article 5 of its founding treaty for the first time, considering the attacks an attack on all member states. NATO then led a coalition in Afghanistan to combat terrorism and support the Afghan government. The mission, known as the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF), lasted until 2014.
3. Libya: In 2011, NATO carried out a military intervention in Libya under a UN mandate to protect civilians during the uprising against then-leader Muammar Gaddafi. NATO conducted airstrikes and implemented a no-fly zone, ultimately leading to Gaddafi's downfall.
4. Bosnia and Herzegovina: During the Bosnian War in the 1990s, NATO launched a series of air campaigns, including Operation Deliberate Force, to halt the ethnic cleansing and violence taking place. NATO's intervention helped to bring the conflict to an end and establish peace in the region.
5. Iraq: In 2004, NATO launched a training mission in Iraq, known as the NATO Training Mission-Iraq (NTM-I), to assist in building the capacity of the Iraqi security forces. The mission aimed to support the stabilization and reconstruction efforts in the country.
6. Counter-piracy operations: NATO has conducted various counter-piracy operations off the coast of Somalia, such as Operation Ocean Shield and Operation Allied Protector. These operations aimed to protect international shipping lanes and combat piracy in the region.
Comments (0)