By Daniel DePetris
Kaja Kallas, the prime minister of Estonia, is unequivocal: Ukraine should be offered “practical, concrete steps on the path to NATO membership” (“West urged to be practical on Kyiv’s Nato bid”, Report, July 6). She isn’t the only European leader expressing such views. Even France, once leery of Kyiv’s membership request, seems on board.
Bringing Ukraine into NATO is obviously impractical as long as the war with Russia continues. As much as the alliance supports the Ukrainian army, it has taken care to avoid moves that could result in a direct conflict with Russia, the world’s largest nuclear weapons state. Immediate NATO membership would obviously qualify here.
This piece was originally published in Financial Times on July 6, 2023. Read more HERE.