Staff Reports
NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg has stated once again that all allies of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) agree that Ukraine will become a member of the alliance. However, Stoltenberg made it clear that Ukraine will not be admitted while the war is still ongoing and before the country makes necessary reforms. Stoltenberg mentioned that the discussions in the upcoming NATO-Ukraine Council meeting will focus on the “priority reforms” that Ukraine needs to undertake to meet NATO’s requirements. He highlighted recent support for Ukraine, including the air defense coalition, substantial funding, and the opening of a training center for Ukrainian pilots in Romania.
While Stoltenberg expressed confidence in Ukraine’s eventual membership in NATO, he emphasized that certain conditions must be met. These conditions include full interoperability between Ukrainian forces and NATO forces based on NATO doctrines and training procedures. Moreover, Ukraine must first resolve the ongoing conflict and cease its involvement in the war. Stoltenberg acknowledged that it would be impractical to grant full membership to a country in the midst of a war. However, he mentioned that NATO would explore ways to bring Ukraine and the alliance closer together.
Although this is not the first time that the possibility of Ukraine joining NATO has been discussed, previous statements have faced criticism. For instance, Hungarian Prime Minister Victor Orban expressed surprise and concern when Stoltenberg claimed that all NATO allies had agreed to Ukraine’s membership. Orban, given Hungary’s geographical proximity to the conflict, has a particular interest in preventing the war from spreading further into Europe. Germany, too, has urged caution and emphasized that Ukraine does not currently meet NATO’s criteria for membership. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz believes that discussions about security guarantees should begin after the war and when Ukraine has been equipped with Western-made weapons.
Despite the dissenting opinions, Ukraine remains enthusiastic about the prospect of joining NATO. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky even referred to Ukraine as a “de facto member of NATO” already. The desire to align with Europe is not limited to NATO alone, as similar sentiments exist regarding European Union membership. European leaders view Ukraine’s future integration as inevitable but acknowledge that it is contingent on the resolution of the war and the country’s internal challenges, including corruption and minority rights.
It is important to remember that NATO is an alliance built on the principle of collective defense. By admitting Ukraine, which has an ongoing conflict with Russia, NATO would potentially be obligated to intervene in a war that could escalate tensions with a major world power. While it is vital to support Ukraine, it is crucial to consider the long-term consequences and the potential risks involved. Ukraine must first address its internal issues, such as corruption and minority rights, to ensure the stability of the country before pursuing NATO membership. Rushing this process could jeopardize both Ukraine’s progress and the security of the entire alliance.
