On 17 November Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba took part in the “The Road to Warsaw Security Forum” online conference.

The Minister talked about the Black Sea region security issues on a discussion panel together with his Romanian colleague Mr. Bogdan Aurescu.

When asked by the moderator, whether Ukraine seeks the NATO Membership Action Plan Dmytro Kuleba emphasized that the “only alternative for Ukraine to be provided the Membership Action Plan is Ukraine’s membership in NATO”.

The Minister pointed out as well that the majority of Ukrainians support Ukraine’s accession to NATO and this support is growing year after year. 

According to the Foreign Minister of Ukraine, the NATO’s Eastern flank should make the most of the cooperation with Ukraine and Georgia, who seek to become members of the Alliance and who are backers Europe's security, in particular in the Black Sea region.     

"We are all natural allies in the Black Sea area. Ukraine will welcome all instruments and formats to enhance NATO’s presence in the Black Sea region, which will as well include a more active involvement of Ukraine and Georgia”, - the Minister said.   

Dmytro Kuleba is also convinced that Ukraine’s engagement in the Bucharest Nine format, in the way mutually acceptable for all sides, could contribute to the development of the Central European region and to the strengthening of security in the Black Sea region.

The Minister emphasized: “We must look at the Black Sea as the area of our shared responsibility. Regardless of coastline lengths, capabilities of the navy or trade volumes. The Black Sea is our shared responsibility and we all must be committed to providing prosperity and security of the region”.

Dmytro Kuleba also briefed the audience on the threats of militarization of the temporarily occupied Crimea, stressing in particular the issue of Russia’s potential deployment of nuclear weapons on the peninsula.