Ukraine's path to membership in the North Atlantic Treaty Organization ( NATO ) is irreversible. As an UNIAN correspondent reports, German Foreign Minister Johann Wadeful said this in Kyiv at the beginning of a meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.

"Indeed, at the NATO summit during the meeting of foreign ministers, I emphasized that Ukraine is on an irreversible path to NATO, and Germany confirms this decision," said Wadeful.

Also, according to him, this concerns Ukraine's aspirations to approach the European Union.

"We hope that during the Danish presidency [in the second half of 2025] the first negotiation cluster [on EU accession] can be opened," the minister said.

He added that Germany is optimistic.

"Sometimes hopes seem small. As was the case during German reunification. But how many years has Germany been united? My family lived in the GDR and did not believe what could happen even a week before Germany was reunited. That is, if we defend freedom, then much is possible," Wadeful emphasized.

In turn, Zelensky thanked the minister for the signal,"which has not been heard from the German side for a very long time, or maybe even never."

"During the NATO summit, during a meeting at the level of NATO foreign ministers and the Ukrainian minister, the German side said that it believes that Ukraine should be in the Alliance, and this is in the interests of all of Europe. We are very pleased with the corresponding signals of support," Zelensky noted.

Ukraine's path to NATO

As UNIAN reported, in final communiqué of the NATO summit in The Hague It reflects that Russia is a"long-term threat" to the Alliance. However, it makes no mention of Ukraine's future membership in the bloc.

Former NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte said that Ukraine's path to joining the Alliance remains"irreversible."

Let us remind you that Ukraine applied for NATO membership under an accelerated procedure at the end of September 2022.