Rutte Says Ukraine Might Not Be the Next NATO Member
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte has indicated that another candidate nation might join the alliance before Kiev. Read Full Article at RT.com.
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An immediate invitation for Kiev to join the US-led military bloc is part of Vladimir Zelensky’s ‘victory plan.’
On Thursday, NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte addressed reporters regarding Ukraine's request for an immediate invitation, suggesting that the next nation to join NATO might not be Ukraine.
Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky announced on Wednesday that a formal invitation to the organization is central to his ‘victory plan’ against Russia. Since 2008, NATO has maintained that Ukraine would eventually join its ranks, despite Moscow’s objections; however, a specific timeline has not been provided.
Finland and Sweden became NATO's 31st and 32nd members in April 2023 and March 2024, respectively. Ahead of a defense ministers meeting in Brussels, Rutte stated that Ukraine does not have a guaranteed spot as the 33rd member, noting that another candidate could “pop in front” in the succession line. “But Ukraine will be a member of NATO in the future. That is what we decided in Washington,” he added, referring to decisions made at a US-hosted summit in July, where the path for Ukrainian accession was declared “irreversible.”
Moscow views the potential admission of Ukraine to NATO, which it considers a hostile organization, as a significant threat to its national security. The Russian government has identified NATO's increasing cooperation with the Ukrainian military following the Western-backed coup in Kiev in 2014 as one of the triggers for ongoing hostilities.
The US and its allies have committed to supporting Ukraine for “as long as it takes” to overcome Russia, providing hundreds of billions in military assistance.
Zelensky’s ‘victory plan,’ first presented to US President Joe Biden in late September, has faced skepticism from Western donors, according to various statements and media reports.
Even if Ukraine were to receive a formal invitation, some NATO members, including Hungary and Slovakia, have expressed opposition to its candidacy. Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto warned last week that accepting it in any form could potentially lead to a world war.
After the Ukrainian proposal was announced, US State Department spokesman Matthew Miller refrained from commenting on the opposition to Ukraine’s candidacy. He stated that Washington will “continue to engage with the government of Ukraine about that plan” during a regular briefing.
Sanya Singh contributed to this report for TROIB News
On Thursday, NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte addressed reporters regarding Ukraine's request for an immediate invitation, suggesting that the next nation to join NATO might not be Ukraine.
Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky announced on Wednesday that a formal invitation to the organization is central to his ‘victory plan’ against Russia. Since 2008, NATO has maintained that Ukraine would eventually join its ranks, despite Moscow’s objections; however, a specific timeline has not been provided.
Finland and Sweden became NATO's 31st and 32nd members in April 2023 and March 2024, respectively. Ahead of a defense ministers meeting in Brussels, Rutte stated that Ukraine does not have a guaranteed spot as the 33rd member, noting that another candidate could “pop in front” in the succession line. “But Ukraine will be a member of NATO in the future. That is what we decided in Washington,” he added, referring to decisions made at a US-hosted summit in July, where the path for Ukrainian accession was declared “irreversible.”
Moscow views the potential admission of Ukraine to NATO, which it considers a hostile organization, as a significant threat to its national security. The Russian government has identified NATO's increasing cooperation with the Ukrainian military following the Western-backed coup in Kiev in 2014 as one of the triggers for ongoing hostilities.
The US and its allies have committed to supporting Ukraine for “as long as it takes” to overcome Russia, providing hundreds of billions in military assistance.
Zelensky’s ‘victory plan,’ first presented to US President Joe Biden in late September, has faced skepticism from Western donors, according to various statements and media reports.
Even if Ukraine were to receive a formal invitation, some NATO members, including Hungary and Slovakia, have expressed opposition to its candidacy. Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto warned last week that accepting it in any form could potentially lead to a world war.
After the Ukrainian proposal was announced, US State Department spokesman Matthew Miller refrained from commenting on the opposition to Ukraine’s candidacy. He stated that Washington will “continue to engage with the government of Ukraine about that plan” during a regular briefing.
Sanya Singh contributed to this report for TROIB News
