Ukraine leader says will hold referendum on joining NATO

BERLIN, Germany – Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko said he wants to hold a referendum on his conflict-torn country joining NATO, in comments to a German newspaper published Thursday, February 2.

He said 54% of Ukrainians now favored membership, up from 16% four years ago, speaking with the Berliner Morgenpost and other regional daily newspapers.

“As president, I have to follow the will of the people and will organize a referendum on the question of NATO accession,” he said, without giving a timeline. 

“And if Ukrainians vote for it, I will do everything for a membership in the Atlantic alliance,” he added, reiterating Kiev’s previously stated wish to join NATO.

Renewed fighting between Ukrainian forces and Russian-backed rebels claimed at least 13 lives early this week.

The conflict has killed nearly 10,000 people since 2014 – more than half of them civilians – and plunged Moscow’s relations with the West to a post-Cold War low. (READ: UN Security Council calls for Ukraine ceasefire as clashes rage)

The Kremlin denies backing the insurgents and only admits that Russian “volunteers” and off-duty soldiers have entered the war zone of their own free will.– Rappler.com

PETRO POROSHENKO. Ukraine’s President Petro Poroshenko gives a joint press statement with the German Chancellor (not in picture) prior to their talks at the Chancellery in Berlin on January 30, 2017. Photo by Odd Andersen / AFP