By KYIV. Nov 29 (Interfax-Ukraine) – There is no sudden change in the format of the participation of Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Dmytro Kuleba in the NATO event in Bucharest, said spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Oleh Nikolenko.
"Some media outlets published news about the allegedly sudden change in the format of Dmytro Kuleba’s participation in the NATO event in Bucharest. In fact, it is not so," Nikolenko wrote on Facebook on Tuesday.
He explained that since 2017 Hungary has been blocking meetings of the Ukraine-NATO Commission above the level of ambassadors.
"Accordingly, the foreign ministers cannot now officially meet under the umbrella of the commission. In order to formally overcome the Hungarian veto, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg will organize a separate meeting of NATO and Ukrainian foreign ministers in Bucharest," Nikolenko said.
The Foreign Ministry spokespertson stressed that this is a full-fledged ministerial meeting, but not in the format of the Ukraine-NATO Commission. According to him, the defense ministers of NATO and Ukraine had previously met in the same format. Nikolenko pointed out that after Hungary withdraws its reservation, ministerial meetings can also take place within the framework of the Ukraine–NATO Commission.
"At a meeting in Bucharest, Kuleba and his foreign colleagues will discuss further military assistance and the restoration of the Ukrainian energy infrastructure. During the visit to Bucharest, the Minister will also hold a number of bilateral meetings," Nikolenko wrote.
