Belgium and the Netherlands will remain committed to supporting Ukraine until such time as it becomes a member of NATO, the document said.
President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky, Prime Minister of Belgium Alexander de Croo and Prime Minister of the Netherlands Mark Rutte signed the joint declaration in The Hague. This was announced by the Office of the President on Thursday, May 4.
“As long as Ukraine becomes a member of NATO, Belgium and the Netherlands will remain committed to supporting Ukraine on its path to further Euro-Atlantic integration and strengthening Ukraine’s ability to defend itself against current aggression of the Russian military and any future threats. The security of Ukraine is of great importance to the Alliance” , the document stated.
Through NATO-Ukraine cooperation, Belgium and the Netherlands will promote long-term NATO interoperability, reform and rebuild Ukraine’s defense industry, and build institutions and capabilities.
At the same time, a clear roadmap for a sustainable transition of the Armed Forces of Ukraine to NATO standards, doctrines and institutions, as well as adequate financial support, will be a priority.
It was emphasized that Belgium and the Netherlands will support Ukraine as long as necessary and will continue to provide strong military support, including armored vehicles, ammunition, as well as humanitarian and financial support.
Countries will continue to work on developing international mechanisms for compensation for the damage caused by Russia’s aggression. At the same time, Belgium and the Netherlands will continue to explore the use of frozen and immobilized Russian assets to support the reconstruction of Ukraine and pay reparations.
Noting that international sanctions are an important part of the international response to Russia’s aggression, Belgium and the Netherlands are committed to further increasing pressure on Russia due to additional EU sanctions if possible, and due to efforts to EU and G7 level to counter the evasion of the sanctions regime.
In addition, Belgium and the Netherlands reaffirm their unwavering support for the independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine within its internationally recognized borders and express support for the Ukrainian Peace Formula which aims to establish a comprehensive, just and sustainable peace in Ukraine for global security.
Recall that today Volodymyr Zelensky announced Ukraine’s expectations from NATO. According to him, Kiev understands that the country will not be a member of the Alliance during the war with Russia.
Source: korrespondent
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