German Ambassador to Ukraine Boris Ruge is convinced that Ukraine's role in European security will be built around NATO, according to Європейська правда.

As Ruge noted, NATO leaders at the Washington summit determined that Ukraine's future is in the Alliance.

"But when this happens is a political question. Meanwhile, what has changed now is that Ukraine is no longer just a recipient of our assistance. You have become an important component of Europe's collective defense. And we also need Ukraine, with its armed forces and its experience of modern warfare, to become part of our defense system", the ambassador said.

Asked about Europe's security structure and Ukraine's role in it, he replied: "In my view, it will all be built around NATO".

"I am a 'NATO person', albeit a former one – so it is quite logical that I have this conclusion. But objectively, it is NATO that is responsible for collective defense", Ruge noted.

At the same time, he acknowledged that the US role in the Alliance is changing, in particular the priorities for deploying American troops are changing.

"Therefore, Europeans will have to take on greater responsibility for their continent. At the same time, Ukraine is closer to the Alliance than ever. We have the NATO-Ukraine Council. We have the Joint Analysis, Training and Education Center in Bydgoszcz, Poland. We are already learning from Ukraine when it comes to unmanned systems", the German ambassador noted.

He added that he does not know exactly when Ukraine will become a full member of NATO.

"But Germany wants as much rapprochement as possible between Ukraine and the Alliance. Because in fact you are already part of our collective defense", he summarized.

Recently, Estonian Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna expressed the opinion that Ukraine's accession to NATO could stop the spiral of war that began to spin in 2008 with Russia's attack on Georgia.

Also in early July, Ukraine's Ambassador to NATO Alena Getmanchuk stated that the goal of joining the Alliance remains unchanged, and more and more countries understand that Ukraine's membership is more in line with the interests of NATO itself.