Ukraine's NATO Membership Not Guaranteed, According to Secretary-General
Ukraine's NATO Membership in the 'Victory Plan'
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky recently presented his 'victory plan' to the parliament, in which he outlined that future membership in the NATO alliance is a key component.
Mark Rutte, the secretary-general of the military bloc who recently assumed the position after Stoltenberg's term ended, responded in a generally positive tone. He expressed his vision for Ukraine to eventually become a member. However, his comments also contained a subtle cautionary note that may disappoint Kiev.
Ukraine's Path to NATO Membership
Rutte referenced the summit of NATO leaders held in Washington in July, stating that "Ukraine will be a member of NATO in the future. That is what we decided in Washington." He asserted that Ukraine's path to NATO was deemed "irreversible".
Despite the focus of many Western media outlets on this 'path to membership' aspect of his remarks, Rutte also conceded that another country could potentially be ahead in the queue.
He indicated that another candidate might "pop in front" in the line, following the recent admission of Sweden and Finland. This statement made it clear that there is no guaranteed timeline for Ukraine's accession.
Response to Zelensky's Victory Plan
The response to Zelensky's victory plan in the West has been less than enthusiastic. Rutte, while reflecting on the plan, termed it as "a strong signal from Zelensky", but also added a key caveat: "That doesn't mean that I here can say I support the whole plan," he said.
He further elaborated, "The plan has many aspects and many political and military issues we really need to hammer out with Ukrainians to understand what is behind it, to see what we can do, what we cannot do."
Despite this, Rutte pledged that the NATO would continue to provide substantial military aid to Ukraine. "Russia has to understand we will keep on doing that as long as they continue the war effort," he stated.
However, Ukraine has expressed dissatisfaction with the pace and quantity of this aid. Currently, Russian forces are capturing new towns and villages in Donetsk every week and may soon take over the entire Donbass region.
Zelensky's Ultimatum to the West
In the meantime, Zelensky has issued an ultimatum to the West: either grant NATO membership or he will seek to acquire nuclear weapons. This puts Europe in a precarious position, facing the potential threat of a nuclear war.
Bottom Line
The path for Ukraine's NATO membership, while seemingly assured, is not without its obstacles and uncertainties. The response to Zelensky's victory plan has been lukewarm at best, and the pace and quantity of military aid have been points of contention. With Zelensky's ultimatum to the West, the stakes have been raised even higher. What are your thoughts on this complex situation? Feel free to share this article with your friends and discuss. Don't forget to sign up for the Daily Briefing, which is delivered every day at 6pm.
