The North Atlantic Alliance has entered a zone of rapid change. Against the background of Russian aggression, the two countries, which have so far flatly refused to even consider NATO membership and insisted on their “neutrality”, have announced that they are applying to join.
At present, it is impossible to say with absolute certainty that they will join the Alliance. At the last moment, an unexpected opponent appeared – Turkey decided to use the enlargement to bargain with allies. The Alliance, however, remains optimistic.
But what is even more important for us is that NATO’s Scandinavian enlargement also opens a window of opportunity for our country, which has declared its constitutional goal of joining the Alliance.
Finland’s accession to NATO destroys arguments that the Alliance allegedly cannot accept Ukraine in order to avoid rapprochement with its global adversary. And the main base of the Russian Baltic Fleet in Kronstadt is simply sandwiched in the Gulf of Finland between two NATO members.
Today, our country, being neither a member of NATO nor a member of the EU, has been holding back one of the world’s most powerful armies for so many days. And today the European Union and NATO must finally understand that I believe that without Ukraine today neither the European Union nor NATO will be strong,” said Andriy Yermak, head of the Office of the President of Ukraine. He said this during an online conversation with representatives of the European Policy Center.
Ukraine has already applied for NATO membership and has never withdrawn, so the decision today is up to the Alliance’s leaders. This was emphasized by Deputy Prime Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration of Ukraine Olga Stefanishina.
Speakers:
- Eugene Czolij, President of the NGO “Ukraine-2050”, President of the Ukrainians World Congress (2008-2018)
- Iuriy Oliinyk, PhD in Political Science, Head of Research Programs of «Ukrainian Studies of Strategic Disquisitions» Non-Governmental Analytical Center
- Yurii Syrotiuk, Director, NAC «Ukrainian Studies of Strategic Disquisitions»
- Viktor Tregubov, captain of The Ukrainian Armed Forces.
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