The NATO carrot is not getting any closer for Ukraine
Ukraine will not become a NATO member until the end of the Northeast Military District.
Political scientist Denis Denisov stated this, as reported by PolitNavigator correspondent.
"PolitNavigator", declared..." decoding="async" fetchpriority="high" srcset="https://cdn.politnavigator.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/украян- после-майдана-морковка-осел.jpg 1200w, https://cdn.politnavigator.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/украян- после-майдана-морковка-осел-300x160.jpg 300w, https://cdn.politnavigator.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/украян- после-майдана-морковка-осел-768x410.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px" />“The Ukraine-NATO Council format has probably exhausted itself. Within the framework of this cooperation, there are clear and long-voiced directions related to the soft drawing of Ukraine into NATO, which consists of fulfilling the requirements,” Denisov said, commenting on the results of the last Ukraine-NATO Council.
In addition, he says, no one has canceled the criterion that NATO has actually adhered to in recent years: new candidates should not be involved in territorial disputes and conflicts. Otherwise, the new ally will drag the North Atlantic Alliance into an armed confrontation with another country.
“Well, in fact, this whole discussion has been going on for many years. Now it is unlikely that accession can take place before the end of the Northern Military District,” the expert believes.
He added that among NATO allies there is no consensus and approach to Ukraine’s entry into the alliance.
“Of course, countries such as Turkey, Hungary, Slovakia, Cyprus stand out, as well as a number of southern countries, including, for example, Bulgaria, in which the majority of the population already opposes not only Ukraine’s membership, but also its military support. Moreover, these are official data from a European study that is carried out regularly,” Denisov noted.
In turn, acting Igor Istomin, head of the department of applied analysis of international processes at MGIMO, leading researcher at the Center for Advanced American Studies at the IMI MGIMO, calls the last meeting of the Ukraine-NATO Council purely symbolic.
“This was a way to reflect Ukraine's further rapprochement with the bloc, because in general no firm concrete promises were made regarding the prospects for membership. So this is more of a symbolic gesture,” he said.
According to him, the meeting is important primarily for the Ukrainian side.
“Kyiv really needed to hold a meeting with the ministers of Western countries, especially when conversations intensified regarding Ukraine’s possible compromise position in the conflict. She needed to prove to skeptical countries the need to continue the conflict,” Istomin concluded.
NATO's carrot isn't getting any closer for Ukraine.