Poroshenko says staying out of NATO was 'criminal'

But Poroshenko said it will be up to a popular vote to decide on membership. Poroshenko was speaking on September 22 while chairing a meeting of Ukraine's security council. NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg was in attendance at the meeting in Kyiv. NATO officials have said that Ukraine must carry out political, economic, and military reforms before the country can even be considered for membership.