Polish premier calls for fast-track NATO membership for Ukraine

By Jo Harper

WARSAW (AA) - Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki on a visit to Canada has said Ukraine should be offered a fast NATO membership process.

“I believe that Ukraine deserves to be presented with a very fast path to NATO,” Morawiecki told Canada's CBC television on Sunday.

“We must prepare for long-term support for Ukraine, because it is making huge efforts to defend its sovereignty and territorial integrity, but it is also fighting for our stability and peace in Europe,” he added.

“Although Ukraine is not a part of NATO today, it fights in its (alliance's) interest in that it defends itself against the brute force of Russia, which threatens many NATO countries,” Morawiecki noted.

“Currently, the security of NATO's eastern flank is the most sensitive point and the most important aspect of the security of the entire region,” he stressed.

Morawiecki added that arms supplies to Poland, mainly from the US, were increasing, adding that Warsaw plans to spend 4% of its GDP this year on defense.

“Given the growing uncertainty around us and the Russian aggression against Ukraine, I would advise everyone to spend more, because security and stability are the basis of any prosperity and long-term development,” said Morawiecki.