Ukraine’s place is in NATO, alliance chief Jens Stoltenberg declared Thursday in Kyiv during his first visit to the country since Russia launched its full-scale invasion. 

The surprise trip, coming more than a year after the war began, is highly sensitive and arrives at a time when Ukrainian officials are pushing the Western military alliance to give Kyiv a clearer path to membership.

Speaking in Kyiv alongside Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Stoltenberg said that the country belongs in the Euro-Atlantic family.

“Ukraine’s rightful place is in NATO,” the secretary-general said, “and over time, our support will help you make this possible.”

Ukraine’s government formally requested “accelerated accession” to join NATO in September last year. But while NATO promised in 2008 that Ukraine will eventually become a member, most allies — including the U.S. — have been wary of creating a concrete pathway to the alliance for Kyiv while war rages on. 

The issue has fueled frustration and disagreements within the alliance. While all allies agree Ukraine cannot become part of NATO right now, some Eastern flank members are pushing for the alliance to give Kyiv at least a symbolic gesture that it is moving closer to NATO. 

The debate will likely intensify ahead of a NATO leaders’ summit scheduled for July. 

In his press conference in Kyiv, Stoltenberg acknowledged that Ukraine’s leadership will raise the matter of membership and security guarantees at the summit. 

“This will be high on the agenda of the meeting, and also in the lead up of the preparations for the Vilnius Summit,” he said.
 

Zelenskyy said that the Vilnius summit “could become historic.”

“Thank you for starting our negotiations. I am sure that we will continue to establish peace together in Ukraine, and throughout Europe, and the world,” the Ukrainian president added.

But while noting that he expects allies will further strengthen a support package for Ukraine, the secretary-general shied away from making any promises on a membership timeline. 

“The main focus of the alliance, of NATO allies now, is to ensure that Ukraine prevails. It is to ensure that Ukraine continues to be a sovereign, independent democratic nation in Europe,” he said, “because that is the only way to also have a meaningful discussion about Ukraine’s future membership.”

Politico

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