Nato allies wrangle over Ukraine membership path, but appear to remove one key hurdle
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Nato members in Eastern Europe, under Moscow’s thumb for decades in the last century, have backed Ukraine’s stance.
PHOTO: REUTERS
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VILNIUS - North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (Nato) members remained divided on Monday over how to put Ukraine on a path to membership
Nato secretary-general Jens Stoltenberg said he had put forward a package that included the removal of the requirement for a Membership Action Plan (MAP) – a list of political, economic and military goals that other Eastern European nations had to meet before joining the alliance.
But Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, who is expected to attend the summit, wants a clear invitation in Vilnius to join the alliance after Russia’s war on Ukraine ends, and security guarantees until that time.
Nato members in Eastern Europe – under Moscow’s thumb for decades in the last century – have backed Ukraine’s stance. But others, such as the United States and Germany, have been more cautious, wary of any move that they fear could draw Nato into a direct conflict with Russia, and potentially spark a global war.
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba tweeted that there had been a consensus among allies to drop MAP, but added: “It is also the best moment to offer clarity on the invitation to Ukraine to become a member.”
Mr Stoltenberg told a news conference there would be more meetings on Monday: “No final decision has been made, but at the summit, I am absolutely certain that we will have unity and a strong message on Ukraine.”
Russian President Vladimir Putin has cited Nato’s expansion towards Russia’s borders over the past two decades as a reason for his decision to send his armed forces into Ukraine on Feb 24, 2022.
Assertions that “Ukraine’s rightful place is in Nato” and that it will join “when conditions allow” are among the phrases being discussed, diplomats say, as they try to find wording acceptable to all of Nato’s 31 members.
At a summit in Bucharest in April 2008, after much wrangling, Nato declared that both Ukraine and Georgia would join the US-led alliance – but gave them no plan on how to get there.
Ukraine’s eastern allies demand that Vilnius go beyond the 2008 declaration, and the issue may again be left for leaders to resolve. Two European diplomats said positions remained entrenched and little progress had been made over the weekend.
Turkey plays EU card
Standing beside Mr Stoltenberg, Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda said the prospect of membership was extremely important to Ukraine, which had been “heroically fighting the Russian monster for almost one-and-a-half years”.
“We must avoid Ukraine membership... becoming a horizon,” he said. “The more you walk towards it, the farther it is.”
Ukraine’s largest Western backers were also still finalising a joint framework to enable long-term security assurances for Kyiv from individual allies, but may wait until after the summit to announce them – to make clear they do not come from Nato – say European diplomats.
Tuesday will also see further talks between Nato, Sweden and Turkey over Stockholm’s membership. Ankara has been the main obstacle to Sweden’s bid, which requires unanimous approval by all Nato members.
In an unexpected move, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said the European Union should open the way for Ankara’s accession to the bloc
Mr Stoltenberg said Sweden had met previously agreed conditions and that it was still possible that Ankara’s reticence could be overcome during the summit, where Mr Erdogan would hold face-to-face talks with US President Joe Biden.
With the war in Ukraine casting its shadow, the summit will be guarded by Patriot missile batteries from Germany, fighter jets, and forces from 17 nations. REUTERS
