By KYIV. May 4 (Interfax-Ukraine) – At the upcoming NATO summit in Vilnius, its participants need to ensure clear steps towards Ukraine’s future membership in the Alliance, Prime Minister of the Netherlands Mark Rutte has said.
At a press conference with the President of Ukraine and Prime Minister Minister of Belgium in The Hague Rutte said the Netherlands supports Ukraine’s ambitions on its way to NATO. At the NATO summit in Vilnius, it is needed to ensure clear steps in this direction and hold such negotiations in these four to six weeks.
As for Ukraine’s accession to the European Union, the Prime Minister said he was impressed by Ukraine’s actions to implement reforms and fulfil the recommendations of the European Commission regarding future membership.
Rutte said he was impressed by the words and actions of the President of Ukraine and his team: how they fight against aggression, but also take very clear steps towards joining the EU. The Commission will evaluate their progress, make a report in the autumn, he said. Rutte was also impressed what was being done inside the country and expressed his assurances that this will be done.
