EA-Times Radio Special: Ukraine, NATO, and A “German Parallel” to End Russia’s Invasion?
Wednesday’s Coverage: Kyiv’s Prosecutor General Resigns Over Draft-Dodging Scandal
Map: Institute for the Study of War
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz immediately said Berlin’s position “has not changed” after Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskiy presented the request as the priority in the Victory Plan to defeat Russia’s 32-month invasion.
The Biden Administration also spread word of its reservations. US Ambassador to NATO Julianne Smith told Politico, “The alliance has not, to date, reached the point where it is prepared to offer membership or an invitation to Ukraine.”
One of the anonymous officials said, “Countries like Belgium, Slovenia, or Spain are hiding behind the US and Germany. They are reluctant.”
Another said that NATO members support Ukraine’s accession “in the abstract, but once it gets closer to materializing” they will begin opposing the idea publicly.
In addition, Slovakia’s Prime Minister Robert Fico is sympathetic to the Kremlin’s line, and Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán is a long-time ally of Vladimir Putin.
Zelenskiy said earlier this week that France, whose Foreign Minister expressed support for the Victory Plan in a visit to Kyiv last weekend, and Italy are backing the invitation. Germany had softened its stance on Ukraine’s NATO membership, but remained “skeptical”.
The President added, “The US will have an impact on this… We believe that they are consolidating their thoughts on NATO and this has an impact on, for example, Hungary and Slovakia.”