Oleh Shamshur: Only NATO Accession can Ensure Ukraine’s Safety

Kyiv, March 20, 2014 – “Putin’s behavior can hardly be changed. The only thing we can do is to contain him. Personal sanctions against his team would not do, only systemic sanctions can achieve this goal”, said Oleh Shamshur, diplomat, former Ambassador of Ukraine to the USA during a briefing at the Ukraine Crisis Media Center.

Shamshur said the West was procrastinating with implementation of sanctions and keeps drawing red lines that Putin seems happy to cross: “Sanctions should have been introduced preventively, not after people have died”.

At the same time, the diplomat said the sanctions are efficient only if Ukraine is strong. For this reason, they should be backed up by developing military and technical cooperation with our country: “Those who speculate about a peaceful settlement, are just indulging in wishful thinking. Only admission of Ukraine to the NATO can ensure our country´s safety. It is necessary at least to initiate a dialogue with the society on this matter, as the Russian aggression created appropriate conditions for it.”

Oleh Shamshur, Ukrainian diplomat, Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Ambassador of Ukraine in the USA. From 1981 to 1993 Mr. Shamshur had been working in the Institute of Foreign Social and Economic Problems of the Academy of Sciences of Ukraine. From 1993 to 1996 — first couselor of the Secretary of Plenipotentiary Representative of Ukraine in the UN and other international organizations in Geneva. Since October 2003 to February 2004 he was the Chairman of the European Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine.

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