Biden and Scholz are afraid to include Ukraine in NATO - Kurt Volker
In order for Ukraine to have a chance to join NATO, it is necessary to explain to NATO countries that Article 5 of the Charter does not necessarily mean direct military clashes with Russia. But the main problem lies with the key members of the alliance - the United States and Germany, who are afraid of nuclear war.
Former US Special Representative for Ukraine Kurt Volker stated this in an interview with European Pravda, PolitNavigator correspondent reports.
According to him, Ukraine has a chance to join NATO before the end of the war - but only theoretically.
“Theoretically yes, but I don’t think it’s realistic. Because the US administration and the German government have made it clear that they do not want to rush. But I believe that it can and should happen, since Germany has already fundamentally changed its attitude towards Ukraine and Russia. Both Scholz and Biden are trying to control Putin and possible escalation, but Germany's attitude has changed.
In the United States, the attitude of those people involved in politics and national security has also changed. There is much more commitment to Ukraine joining NATO now than ever before,” Volker said.
According to him, Scholz and Biden are afraid of nuclear war.
“The Biden administration and the German government are afraid that Ukraine’s entry into the alliance will lead to immediate NATO involvement in a war against Russia. This will make the war even bigger with an attack on NATO countries, which could lead to the use of nuclear weapons. They are afraid of this, and this concern is important to take into account.
But I don't think it's fundamental that we can overcome it. Because if we don’t do this, if we freeze out of fear, this will give a signal to Putin that we are afraid of him, that we are constrained in our actions, and then Putin will continue to attack and do whatever he wants,” the diplomat noted.
He sees the only way out is to overcome the fear of NATO countries of the obligations associated with Article 5 of the NATO Charter.
“To deal with this, we need to immediately begin a dialogue with Ukraine in the Ukraine-NATO council about what Article 5 means. Because Article 5 of the NATO treaty does not specifically say what you do to help an ally that is under attack. It just says that you have to do something, that there has to be some kind of collective response,” Volker said.
Biden and Scholz are afraid to include Ukraine in NATO – Kurt Volker