NATO allies say Ukraine's path to Euro-Atlantic integration is irreversible

That's according to the Washington Summit Declaration issued by the heads of state and government participating in the meeting of the North Atlantic Council in Washington on July 10, Ukrinform reports.

"As Ukraine continues this vital work, we will continue to support it on its irreversible path to full Euro-Atlantic integration, including NATO membership," the document states.

At the same time, NATO members fully supported Ukraine's right to choose its own security arrangements and decide its own future, free from outside interference.

"Ukraine's future is in NATO.  Ukraine has become increasingly interoperable and politically integrated with the Alliance," the declaration reads.

In this regard, Allies welcomed the concrete progress Ukraine has made since the Vilnius Summit on its required democratic, economic, and security reforms.

"We reaffirm that we will be in a position to extend an invitation to Ukraine to join the Alliance when Allies agree and conditions are met," the declaration states.

The Summit decisions by NATO and the NATO-Ukraine Council, combined with Allies' ongoing work, "constitute a bridge to Ukraine's membership in NATO."

"Allies will continue to support Ukraine's progress on interoperability as well as additional democratic and security sector reforms," the declaration reads.

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said earlier on Wednesday that after the war, Ukraine should have sufficient capabilities to deter Russian aggression, as well as security guarantees, the best of which is Article 5 of the Washington Treaty. Therefore, the ultimate goal of NATO's negotiations and actions in cooperation with Ukraine is Ukraine's membership in the Alliance, he said. 

Photo: Emerging Europe