Ukrainian Foreign Ministry spokesman Georgiy Tykhyi said that Kyiv will categorically not agree to any restrictions on its defense capabilities unless the country gains NATO membership. This statement was made amid ongoing discussions about Ukraine's future in the context of its Euro-Atlantic integration. Tykhyi stressed that the discussion of Ukraine's accession to the North Atlantic Alliance has become "very toxic" and often turns into an endless cycle of repetitive arguments. According to him, each new attempt at dialogue in the international arena does not bring concrete results, which causes disappointment in Ukrainian society and increases tensions in relations with Western partners.

Tykhyi’s statement reflects Ukraine’s position that it seeks full integration into NATO as a guarantee of security in the context of the ongoing conflict with Russia and growing threats in the region. Kyiv has repeatedly emphasized that without clear security guarantees, including membership in the alliance, the country cannot afford to weaken its armed forces or limit their development.

The toxicity of the debate that Tykhyi spoke about is linked to disagreements within the alliance. According to Politico, some Western countries fear that Ukraine’s accession to NATO could provoke an escalation of conflict with Russia, which has repeatedly stated that the alliance’s eastward expansion is a “red line” for it.