On September 30, 2022, Russia has annexed Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia, and Kherson by referendums, which are obsolete in terms of international law. After these developments, the members of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) indicated that there will be new steps taken against Russia. In that context, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, the President of Ukraine, has declared that the country has signed application to be a member of NATO.
This document was signed by Ruslan Stefanchuk, Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada, a.k.a. President of the Parliament of Ukraine, and by Denys Shmyhal, Prime Minister of Ukraine. Zelenskyy has said in the following, in his statement regarding the topic:[1]
“De facto, we have already completed our path to NATO. De facto, we have already proven interoperability with the Alliance’s standards, they are real for Ukraine – real on the battlefield and in all aspects of our interaction… Today, Ukraine is applying to make it de jure. Under a procedure consistent with our significance for the protection of our entire community. Under an accelerated procedure.”
In addition, Zelenskyy added that, before NATO members build consensus on membership of the Ukraine, Kiev’s getting security guarantees is needed.[2]
Jens Stoltenberg, the Secretary General of NATO, has reminded in a press conference that the Alliance is not a part of the conflict in Ukraine, and they do not recognize the attempts of Russia to integrate the regions by holding referendum; moreover, he expressed that Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia and Kherson are still accepted as Ukraine’s territory.[3] In that context, Stoltenberg has made a statement that, “The annexation of the territories does not show strength, it shows weakness.”[4] At the same time, he warned Russia that the country will face “serious consequents” if it uses nuclear weapons.
On the other hand, Stoltenberg has answered question on whether the Alliance supports Ukraine’s application to the Alliance. In that sense, Stoltenberg has expressed the following words, which show that in the current conjuncture, membership is not taken kindly:[5]
“Every democracy in Europe has the right to apply for NATO membership, and NATO Allies respect that right. And we have stated again and again that NATO’s door remains open. And we have demonstrated that over the last years. NATO Allies, when they met at the NATO Summit in Madrid, stated also very clearly, that we support Ukraine’s right to choose its own path, to decide what kind of security arrangements it wants to be part of. Then, a decision on membership, of course has to be taken by all 30 Allies and we take these decisions by consensus.”
A similar declaration was received from the White House as well. On September 30, 2022, the United States (US) National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan evaluated the Ukraine’s application for membership to the NATO:[6]
“The US has been clear for decades that we support an open-door policy for NATO. Any decision on NATO membership is between the 30 allies and the countries aspiring to join. Right now, our view is that the best way for us to support Ukraine is through practical, on-the-ground support in Ukraine and that the process in Brussels should be taken up at a different time”
The US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken also indicated that the policy of the Washington Administration did not change, in a press conference on September 30, 2022, and answering a question on a possible decision to accept Ukraine to NATO, he said that they are supporting the NATO’s “Open-door policy”, yet there is a process that the countries must follow in that sense.[7]
At that point, the sincerity of the US and the NATO’s policy towards Ukraine can be discussed. This situation arises from the issue that if Ukraine legally becomes a member of the NATO, Russia and the NATO will directly envisage. Because, that kind of development could evolve into a process, where the conflicts would take place not only in the east and the south of the Ukraine, but also in all the fronts of Europe to Russia, and in Arctics. In fact, this scenario is to Kiev’s benefit. That’s why, Ukraine desires to be a member of the NATO as soon as possible. However, even the US and the NATO provide military aid to Ukraine, they avoid to directly contravene with Russia. At that point, using Ukraine as a proxy actor seems more acceptable for them.
On the other hand, Ukraine’s accelerated application to be a member of the NATO means that the Kiev administration renounced the decision of being out of the bloc, which was signed in the Istanbul Agreement. Therefore, if the war ends, the membership process of the country could be escalated. As it is known, the main reason of Russia is to block the NATO membership of Ukraine. In fact, it is one of the reasons of the war. That’s why, Kiev shows that they are determinant to be a member with the application, against Russia.
As a result, Russia’s referendum in Ukraine has increased the interest of Kiev on NATO, and resulted in full-membership application. However, the NATO has responded the application positively; however, they do not lean towards the membership in the current conjuncture at least in the current situation.
1 “Украина подписывает заявку на ускоренное вступление в НАТО – Зеленский”, Yevropeyskaya Ukraina, https://www.eurointegration.com.ua/rus/news/2022/09/30/7147833/, (Date of Accession:01.10.2022).
[2] Ibid.
[3] “Press Point with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg”, NATO, https://www.nato.int/cps/en/natohq/opinions_207788.htm, (Date of Accession: 01.10.2022).
[4] Ibid.
5 “Столтенберг: Украина имеет право подать заявку на членство, но приоритет сейчас-помощь”, Ukraynskaya Pravda, https://www.pravda.com.ua/rus/news/2022/09/30/7369876/, (Date of Accession: 01.10.2022).
3 “Белый дом: вступление Украины в НАТО надо решить “в другое время””, Yevropeyskaya Ukraina, https://www.eurointegration.com.ua/rus/news/2022/09/30/7147870/, (Date of Accession: 01.10.2022).
4 “Блинкен заявил, что США создают Украине потенциал сдерживания России на перспективу”, Tass, https://tass.ru/mezhdunarodnaya-panorama/15926773?utm_source=google.com&utm_medium=organic&utm_campaign=google.com&utm_referrer=google.com, (Date of Accession: 01.10.2022).
