Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy recently presented his Victory Plan to EU and NATO allies, advocating for Ukraine’s NATO membership as a means of ensuring future security and deterring Russia. Baltic countries like Lithuania have voiced their support for this proposal, with Lithuanian Defence Minister Laurynas Kasčiūnas stating that Russia needs to understand that it cannot have a veto over another country’s NATO membership. Kasčiūnas emphasized that Lithuania has always supported Ukraine’s invitation into NATO in order to prevent Russia from exerting informal veto power over NATO’s enlargement.
While Lithuania and other countries view inviting Ukraine to join NATO as a just and strategic move, there are also allies such as the US who may perceive it as provocative to Russia. Moreover, countries like Hungary and Slovakia actively oppose the proposal. Despite Ukraine being told at the 75th NATO Summit in Washington DC that it is on an “irreversible bridge” towards membership, there has not been a formal invitation extended yet. Kasčiūnas noted that an invitation is not equivalent to full membership and stated that it would take time for Ukraine to meet the necessary criteria for joining the alliance.
According to Kasčiūnas, offering Ukraine an invitation to join NATO would send a clear message to both Russia and Ukraine about the irreversible path towards the West and independent sovereignty. He argued that taking action is crucial, as Russia only responds to strength and deterrence. The Baltic countries, including Lithuania, had previously urged the EU and the West to take a firmer stance against Russia, advocating for providing more weapons to Ukraine for deterrence purposes. However, these warnings were largely ignored, leading to the current situation.
The Defence Minister emphasized the importance of not remaining passive in the face of Russian aggression, stating that doing nothing can actually escalate the situation further. He highlighted that the belief that providing weapons to Ukraine would only provoke Russia has been proven wrong. Kasčiūnas stressed that not taking decisive action against Russia has only emboldened the country, and the lack of sufficient support for Ukraine has had negative consequences. He called for a more proactive approach in addressing Russian aggression and supporting Ukraine in its fight for independence and security.
Overall, the Ukrainian President’s proposal for NATO membership has garnered support from some allies, while others remain skeptical about its implications. Despite divisions within the alliance, there is a consensus that action needs to be taken to address the security concerns in the region. Kasčiūnas and other advocates for Ukraine’s NATO membership believe that offering an invitation to join the alliance would bolster Ukraine’s security and deterrence capabilities, sending a clear message to Russia about the Western orientation of Ukraine. In the face of ongoing tensions in Eastern Europe, discussions about Ukraine’s NATO membership continue to be a point of contention and debate among the alliance’s member states.
