NATO member states must agree on the conditions required to invite Ukraine into the alliance following Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky's unveiling of a "victory plan" earlier this week.
Cannot Join During War
Dutch Defense Minister Ruben Brekelmans said on Friday, October 18, that NATO must establish clear criteria for Ukraine’s future membership, according to Ziare.
Zelensky’s five-point plan, which includes an urgent call for an invitation to join NATO, aims to send a clear message to Russian President Vladimir Putin that Moscow’s invasion will end in geopolitical defeat.
Although NATO has affirmed that Ukraine will eventually become a member, it has maintained that the country cannot join while it remains at war, as doing so could escalate into a direct conflict between NATO and Russia.
"I don't see 32 allies agreeing to grant an invitation"
So far, NATO leaders have refrained from directly responding to Zelensky's renewed request for an invitation.
Brekelmans, whose country is one of NATO’s 32 members, pointed out the diverse opinions within the alliance on the matter. Achieving the necessary consensus among members will require establishing clear criteria for Ukraine to meet in order to receive an invitation, and additional conditions for eventual full membership.
"If you don't have that clarity upfront, I don't see 32 allies agreeing to grant an invitation," Brekelmans told reporters after a NATO Defense Ministers meeting in Brussels.
When asked what conditions Ukraine would need to fulfill, Brekelmans highlighted the importance of combating corruption. "If you want to modernize Ukraine’s armed forces and involve other countries, I can imagine you would also want to assess the progress Ukrainians are making in this area," he added.
