Ukrainian FM says Nato not ready for peace-keeping role

Ukraine's foreign minister has said that Nato is not ready to carry out a peace-keeping mission in Ukraine.

Dmytro Kuleba was in Warsaw on Wednesday for meetings with the Polish prime minister, Mateusz Morawiecki, parliamentary Speaker Elżbieta Witek and Senate Speaker Tomasz Grodzki.

At a press conference after the talks, Kuleba was asked whether Ukraine "categorically rejects" a proposal made by Polish Deputy Prime Minister Jarosław Kaczyński in Kyiv that Nato could perform peace-keeping duties in Ukraine. Kaczyński is also leader of Poland's ruling Law and Justice party.

"We're glad of every initiative connected with ending the war in Ukraine," Kuleba said. "Mr Kaczyński plays an important role in consolidating the Polish political spectrum and also around the Ukraine issue.

"We believe that all propositions and ideas are always worth discussing — all propositions that are related to Ukraine — to see how we can best promote those initiatives at the level of Nato and the EU," he continued.

"We're not categorically rejecting anything. However, from what we've seen of Nato, the Alliance is not ready to take that step. The problem is not with us, the problem is on the other side," he said.

Kuleba said he had not discussed the peace-keeping proposal with Morawiecki but said the matter would be raised at other talks in Poland. He went on to say he valued Poland's initiatives and its government's efforts "to build consensus in the EU and Nato around a range of difficult issues and initiatives related to Ukraine."

"So in all certainty we will also discuss this issue," Kuleba said.

Kuleba went on to express gratitude for everything Poland has done to help his country, describing Poland as "a true friend of Ukraine."

He said he had come to Warsaw with a three-fold objective: "First, to thank Poland for everything it has done. We want you, Poles, to know that Ukraine is grateful for everything you have done so far. The second message as that as long as the war lasts, more needs to be done."

He said this covered defence, humanitarian and economic aid, as well as sanctions, which he said need to be tightened as well as new ones added.

"The third issue I discussed with our Polish partners is the future," Kuleba continued. "What we will do together, when we win this war, because we have no doubt we will triumph and European security will be protected in Ukraine."