Head of Zelensky's Office reaffirms Ukraine's commitment to NATO membership goal

MOSCOW. May 3 (Interfax) - Ukraine expects its allies to offer effective security guarantees, which will become the first stage of Ukraine's accession to NATO, Head of President Vladimir Zelensky's Office Andrei Yermak said.

"Membership in NATO is the main goal of Ukraine. NATO is the strongest defense alliance in the world. We are grateful to NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, who said in Kiev recently that 'Ukraine's future is in NATO'," Ukrainian media quoted Yermak as saying in an article for the Finnish newspaper Helsingin Sanomat.

"We expect our allies to offer Ukraine effective security guarantees set out in a Kiev security treaty, which has been drawn up by our Rasmussen-Yermal group. It is these guarantees that will become the first stage of our accession to NATO," he said.