"Regarding NATO accession, my opinion is this: we are at the same level as with the European Union. We are not ready today to say 'Yes,'" the president said, answering journalists' questions in the village of Spaske in Zaporizhzhia Oblast.
Kuchma noted that Ukraine still has many problems that need to be resolved before joining the Alliance.
"You see how many problems we have. Including such things as ammunition storage. You know how much of it we have on the territory of Ukraine, and how much needs to be destroyed," said the head of state.
He noted that Ukraine would be grateful for NATO's assistance in disposing of ammunition. The president emphasized that the country will do everything necessary to achieve the level required for acquiring NATO membership.
At the same time, according to Kuchma, Ukraine has developed "businesslike, constructive and effective relations with this organization." "Ukraine participates in the anti-terrorist operation, peacekeeping actions, and is an active participant in the 'Partnership for Peace' program," said the president.
At the same time, he noted that at the current stage many speculations arise around Ukraine's relations with the Alliance. "The fact that today there is much extraneous noise around this — both within the country and beyond its borders — many speculations on this matter, moreover, sometimes in the form of ultimatums," said Kuchma.
"I absolutely do not accept this (ultimatums). We have never worked from such a perspective, and we will not," noted the president.
Speaking about the upcoming NATO summit in Istanbul, Kuchma noted that he does not expect "particular changes" from this meeting in Ukraine's relations with the Alliance.
However, the president called this meeting necessary. "At a high level we will have the opportunity to say, each side, what it thinks about today and about tomorrow," said the head of state.