German Chancellor Olaf ScholzBERLIN, Mar 4The refusal of Ukraine and Georgia to join NATO was right, this issue was not and is not on the agenda, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said in an interview with the ZDF TV channel. «It was the right decision, then there were very long negotiations in NATO on this issue,» — said Scholz, answering the corresponding question of the presenter. The Chancellor added that this issue is not on the agenda now. The NATO countries at the summit in Bucharest in 2008 confirmed that Georgia and Ukraine have the right to membership in the alliance, postponing the issue for an indefinite time. Last June, NATO leaders at a summit in Brussels supported the right of both countries to join the alliance. They also stated the need to continue reforms, but did not name the dates for the possible entry of these countries into the organization.The United States wanted to accept Ukraine into NATO bypassing the rules, Naryshkin saidUkraine in December 2014 abandoned its non-bloc status, and then enshrined in the constitution a course towards joining the EU and NATO. Now it has the status of a NATO partner with enhanced capabilities, but insists on full membership. Russia is categorically opposed to further expansion of the alliance to the east. This became the main requirement of the draft documents on security guarantees, which Moscow handed over to Washington and Brussels. In addition, the Russian side insists on the West's refusal to create military bases in the post-Soviet countries, on the non-deployment of strike weapons near its borders and the withdrawal of NATO forces in Eastern Europe to the positions of 1997. Russian President Vladimir Putin on February 21 in response to requests from the Donbass republics and after appeals of the State Duma deputies signed decrees recognizing the sovereignty of the LPR and the DPR. Early on the morning of February 24, Russia launched a military special operation to demilitarize Ukraine. According to the Ministry of Defense, the Armed Forces only strike military infrastructure and Ukrainian troops.
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