Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy recently presented his Victory Plan to EU and NATO allies, proposing that Ukraine should be invited to join NATO. This move has received support from countries like Lithuania, who believe that Ukraine’s NATO membership is essential for guaranteeing its future security and deterring Russia. Lithuanian Defence Minister Laurynas Kasčiūnas emphasized the importance of not allowing Russia to have a veto over NATO enlargement, stating that an invitation to join the alliance would be a point of no return for Ukraine towards its western direction and independent sovereignty.
While there is strong support for Ukraine’s NATO membership from countries like Lithuania, there are others who view this proposal differently. The United States, for example, may see it as a provocation to Russia, while allies like Hungary and Slovakia are actively against the idea. At the 75th anniversary of the NATO Summit in Washington DC, Ukraine was told it was on an “irreversible bridge” towards membership, but a formal invitation was not extended at that time. Kasčiūnas pointed out that an invitation does not equate to full membership and that it would take several years for Ukraine to meet the necessary interoperability levels and standards of the alliance.
The Lithuanian Defence Minister argued that the current impasse in Ukraine is counterproductive, as Russia only reacts to strength. He highlighted the importance of providing Ukraine with the necessary weapons for deterrence, as a strong Ukraine would serve as a deterrent to Russia. Despite warnings from some Western allies that arming Ukraine could provoke escalation, Kasčiūnas believes that not providing enough support has led to the current situation. He stressed that taking no action is also escalatory and emphasized the need for concrete actions rather than just words about the irreversibility of Ukraine’s western direction.
Kasčiūnas reiterated that the Baltic countries have long urged the EU and the West to take stronger action against Russia, but their warnings were ignored. He emphasized that giving Ukraine more weapons for deterrence would have been beneficial in deterring Russia’s aggressive actions. The minister highlighted the importance of providing the necessary support to Ukraine to prevent further escalation of the conflict. He called for a shift towards action rather than mere rhetoric in addressing the crisis in Ukraine and countering Russian aggression.
In summary, the proposal for Ukraine’s NATO membership has received mixed reactions from various countries and allies. While countries like Lithuania support the idea as a means of guaranteeing Ukraine’s security and deterring Russia, there are concerns about provoking Russia and the implications of such a move. The Lithuanian Defence Minister emphasized the need for concrete actions to support Ukraine and deter Russian aggression, highlighting the importance of providing the necessary weapons for deterrence. He argued that taking no action is escalatory and stressed the importance of taking decisive steps to address the crisis in Ukraine.
