Ukraine will not be able to join NATO until its conflict with Russia is resolved, according to Christoph Heusgen, the chairman of the Munich Security Conference. However, Heusgen supports the creation of security guarantees for Kiev, with the possibility of full membership in the future.
In an interview with Germany’s Rheinische Post newspaper, Heusgen stated that Ukraine “must and will become a member of NATO – as soon as the conditions allow this.” However, he emphasized that granting membership to Ukraine “in the current phase of the conflict” is not feasible. Heusgen explained that this would trigger collective defense under Article 5 of the North Atlantic Treaty, effectively dragging the alliance into the war with Russia.
Heusgen expressed hope that during the NATO summit in Vilnius, leaders of member states will send a clear signal that Ukraine belongs to the “NATO family” and discuss the conditions for future membership.
The British newspaper, Telegraph, reported over the weekend that Germany opposes offering Ukraine a clear roadmap or concrete guarantees of NATO membership at the upcoming summit. German officials are concerned that Ukraine would immediately invoke Article 5 if admitted into the bloc. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has previously stated that joining NATO is “out of the question” as long as Ukraine remains in conflict with Russia.
US President Joe Biden has also expressed similar concerns, suggesting that Ukraine’s immediate NATO membership would lead to war with Russia.
Ahead of the Vilnius summit, media outlets have reported that the US, Germany, and France are working on security guarantees for Ukraine in the meantime.
Ukraine formally applied to join NATO last autumn, with President Vladimir Zelensky demanding an invitation or a clear membership timeline. Zelensky has even threatened to skip the summit if he is not satisfied with what the alliance has to offer.
Russia has long viewed NATO’s expansion towards its borders as a significant threat to its national security. Moscow has repeatedly cited Ukraine’s NATO aspirations as one of the reasons for its military actions against its neighbor.
It is clear that the issue of Ukraine’s NATO membership remains complex and sensitive. While there is support for Ukraine’s future membership, the ongoing conflict with Russia presents significant challenges. The NATO summit in Vilnius will provide an opportunity for leaders to discuss and address these complexities, as well as explore the possibility of creating security guarantees for Ukraine in the meantime.
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