Ukraine Will Drive European Security Even Without Near-Term NATO Membership Chentsov

(MENAFN- UkrinForm) Ukraine's Deputy Prime Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration, Vsevolod Chentsov, made the statement in Brussels at the "Support Ukraine, Defend Europe" event organized by the Kyiv Security Forum's EU Office, an Ukrinform correspondent reports.

"We probably had to reconsider our attitude to NATO. Yeah, we've been looking to NATO direction as a security umbrella, but now I think it's a different story. We are probably thinking about partnership at this stage, and NATO is looking into Ukraine's experience, and you learn from us, because this is our unfortunate role now, playing this role of the forepost of Europe's defense," Chentsov said.

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At the same time, he stressed the absolute need to look ahead and consider the role Ukraine will play after the war.

"And it doesn't matter in that regard whether Ukraine immediately becomes a NATO member. Ukraine is and will be a factor of European security, an important partner for NATO, and hopefully soon member of the EU," Chentsov said.

He focused on Ukraine's accession to the EU as a security factor. Chentsov acknowledged that Kyiv had long viewed EU membership as an alternative "security umbrella" for Ukraine.

"We are changing this perception right now. Again, Ukraine is a factor for EU security in the broader sense, right? It's not only about the Ukrainian Armed Forces, probably one of the most capable armed forces on the continent, but we are also talking about Ukrainian experience in the broader domain of resilience. We are talking about democratic resilience and relevant instruments," he said.

He warned that Russia had now dared to threaten European countries directly and had begun sending "messages," such as the drone incident in Leipzig. Russia is resorting to blackmail and threats, but this is only the beginning.

"It's time for member states, for NATO to join forces with Ukraine and to learn how it is to live under constant threat. In our case, unfortunately, this is a physical kinetic threat, and in your cases, it is still a hybrid threat. So this is a change of the situation we are living through, and also a change of roles that we have to play, to perform," Chentsov said.

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