Russia’s annexation of Crimea and other regions in the east of Ukraine has led to a debate over the fate of the country’s membership in NATO. The Russian government has demanded that the Ukrainian government not join the alliance, and that the U.S. should do the same. But the question of whether Ukraine should join NATO remains unclear. The answer will likely be determined by the decision of the 30 other NATO members.
One argument against the membership of Ukraine in NATO is that Kyiv hasn’t demonstrated a strong reform record. While the West has encouraged Kiev to improve its political and legal system, its lack of progress has been a barrier to its admission to NATO. While EU nations are eager to welcome new members, it is important to remember that it is not easy to gain membership in an organization that has a long history of conflict.
NATO’s open door policy means that any state can apply for membership, but it does have criteria and a process. Former Ukrainian president Viktor Yushchenko was a proponent of membership, but his election as president under Viktor Yanukovych prompted a backlash. As a result, Ukraine’s NATO application was rejected. In the meantime, Ukrainians sought closer ties with Moscow, including agreeing to allow Moscow to continue leasing Crimea’s Black Sea naval port. In 2014, the Obama administration was encouraging Ukraine to join NATO, but this has failed to materialize. After Yanukovych was ousted in a Euromaidan protest, the United States was reluctant to do so.
President-elect Obama is pressing for Ukraine to join NATO. “The European Union is not an extension of the United States.” As Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken stated in a speech to the Senate in June, the U.S. government supports Ukraine’s membership in NATO. The European Union has been advocating that Ukraine sign a formal association agreement with the EU. And Mr. Biden is urging the U.S. to support a free and open accession with the European Union.
The U.S. is reluctant to include Ukraine in NATO. The country is not a member of the European Union. It does not have a representative office in NATO. Andriy Zahorodnyuk, the president of the 2019-2020 coalition, has called for the U.S. to accept Ukraine into the Alliance. The goal of the summit is to “seek full membership.” This will require both sides to meet and discuss criteria.
Ukraine has repeatedly rejected NATO membership despite the obvious benefits. The membership is not for Ukraine, but Georgia. However, the decision to join the alliance is a matter of national security. The Ukraine has not shown that it is willing to reform its security sector. Even though it does not meet the criteria of NATO membership, it has not demonstrated a commitment to implementing the EU’s standards. So, it is not a good time to join NATO.
The EU has expressed concerns about Russia’s aggressive behavior toward Ukraine and Georgia. It is still reluctant to engage in a military confrontation with Russia. The EU has repeatedly warned Ukraine to reform its armed forces to reduce the threat of aggression. In addition, Ukraine is not a member of the European Union. But it is a member of NATO. Its membership would help it to gain access to NATO. So, the United States should consider inviting Ukraine into the alliance.
The European Union has welcomed Ukraine’s desire to join the organization, but it is not ready for NATO. In fact, the EU’s member states will be reluctant to accept it unless it demonstrates that it is a democracy and that it respects human rights. In addition, the Europeans will not accept an undemocratic nation. The U.S. is unwilling to do business with a nation that doesn’t respect its values.
A lack of NATO membership is a significant hindrance for Ukraine’s ambitions to join the alliance. As a security recipient in its region, Ukraine has been deterring Russian aggression for the past seven years. Its military operations have developed, but it does not have the capability to join NATO. A member state that is ready to join the alliance will be able to counter any Russian aggression that is aimed at its region.