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Ukraine's NATO entry: How long it might take to join the alliance

2023-03-06T09:24:40.812Z


Ukraine wants to join NATO to gain security. The chairman of the Munich Security Conference thinks the accession is the right thing to do.


Ukraine wants to join NATO to gain security.

The chairman of the Munich Security Conference thinks the accession is the right thing to do.

Munich/Berlin – What seemed impossible a few years ago has been discussed more and more widely in recent months.

Ukraine could become a member of NATO.

Ever since Russia annexed Crimea, there has been a great desire for Ukraine to join NATO.

In 2019, the desire to join was even included in the Ukrainian constitution.

Since the outbreak of the Ukraine war in spring 2022, it has also been clear to Ukraine: They want to join the EU.

But neither the one nor the other request for accession can be implemented so quickly.

Above all, joining NATO would be the maximum security guarantee for Ukraine.

NATO accession of Ukraine: Alliance could give the country security

"NATO allies agree that Ukraine will become a member of the alliance."

That's what Jens Stoltenberg said on February 28, 2023 in Helsinki.

A sentence that can give Ukraine new hope.

However, it is a "long-term perspective", but it is a step forward for Ukraine.

The ARD program "Anne Will" on March 5, 2023 also discussed what Ukraine's entry into NATO could mean. Regarding the topic of the program "'With the gun to the temple' - are peace negotiations with Putin currently possible? “, the guests discussed what safety guarantees Western Ukraine can give.

The SPD General Secretary Kevin Kühnert, the left-wing politician Jan van Aken, the project leader and scientist at the Institute for European Politics, Ljudmyla Melnyk, the chairman of the Munich Security Conference, Christoph Heusgen and the chairman of the Council of the Evangelical Church, were guests of Anne Will in Germany, Annette Kurschus.

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Meeting of NATO defense ministers at NATO headquarters.

© Olivier Matthys/dpa

Kevin Kühnert reacted to the statement by the NATO Secretary General made by Anne Will: "We don't know today whether and when that will ever happen," said Kühnert.

"Such processes are more than just announcements".

The debate over whether Ukraine should join NATO has been a long one.

When it came to Georgia's admission to NATO in 2008, Ukraine's membership was also ruled out.

Among other things, out of consideration for Russia, which should not be further provoked after NATO's eastward expansion.

NATO accession: "Have to think seriously" - security guarantee for Ukraine

For the chairman of the Munich Security Conference, the situation today is completely different.

"I think we need to seriously consider NATO membership," Heusgen said.

Even a Realpolitiker like Henry Kissinger, who was always opposed to Ukraine's NATO membership, has changed his mind.

Heusgen quotes the former US Secretary of State as saying that "in order to preserve peace in Europe in the long term", Ukraine must be admitted to NATO after a peace agreement.

He himself believes that this will be very difficult.

But with the experience that Putin has not adhered to numerous agreements, such as the Minsk Agreement or the UN Charter, serious thought needs to be given today to how to give Ukraine security.

The chairman of the Munich Security Conference agrees that Ukraine should be admitted to NATO.

An alternative would be to "stuff Ukraine with guns," as Heusgen explained.

This option would be another security guarantee for Ukraine.

"One cannot take the word of Vladimir Putin".

Lyudmyla Melnyk also raised the question of what would be easier for countries like Germany, the USA, France or Great Britain.

NATO accession or individual security guarantees?

UN mandate after peace agreement in Ukraine?

Putin would 'never shoot'

When asked whether it was still a mistake from today's perspective not to admit Ukraine into NATO, the chairman of the Munich Security Conference gave a split answer.

First, he refers to Article 10 of the NATO treaty, which states that a member must contribute to the stability of NATO.

Ukraine in 2008 was "completely different," emphasized Heusgen.

In hindsight it should have been done, but it would not have been possible at the time, he points out.

Another solution in the debate is presented by left-wing politician van Aken.

He said that joining NATO could take 20 or 30 years.

After the end of the war he could imagine a UN mandate in Ukraine, which would be carried out by Chinese, Brazilian or even Indian soldiers.

He believes that such an operation could also be a security guarantee for Ukraine.

After all, these states are Russia's closest allies.

Putin would "never shoot at a Chinese soldier," as van Aken said.

(vk)

List of rubrics: © Olivier Matthys/dpa

Source: merkur

All news articles on 2023-03-06

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