At NATO summit, Poroshenko speaks about Ukraine’s “civilizational choice”

BRUSSELS – In a joint press briefing (seen on the photo on the left) on July 12 with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, Ukraine’s President Petro Poroshenko emphasized that integration with the European Union and NATO is a foreign-policy priority of Ukraine. “This civilizational choice is strongly supported by the Ukrainian nation. That is why I have the intention to fix this strategic course in the Constitution of Ukraine,” said Mr. Poroshenko. He also noted that Ukraine’s meeting with allies during the NATO summit marks the 10th anniversary of the Bucharest Summit, when Ukraine and Georgia received a commitment regarding NATO membership in the future. “We believe that the alliance’s door will remain open and Ukraine, which shares NATO’s common values, will become an ally when we will be ready.” Also during the joint briefing, Mr. Stoltenberg emphasized: “NATO is firm in our support for Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. We strongly condemn Russia’s illegal annexation of Crimea. In eastern Ukraine, the situation remains serious with repeated violations of the ceasefire and human rights everyday.”