Finnish president offers Ukraine de facto NATO membership status

Finnish President Alexander Stubb has acknowledged internal disagreements within NATO over Ukraine's potential membership, stating that both the United States and Germany oppose its formal accession.

Speaking in an interview with CNN, Stubb suggested that Ukraine could instead integrate into the alliance de facto, Caliber.Az reports.

He proposed that a possible condition in any future agreement to end hostilities could include Ukraine’s automatic NATO accession if Russia launches another attack. "This would be a sufficiently reliable security guarantee," Stubb added.

The Finnish leader also advocated for using frozen Russian assets to support Ukraine, reinforcing calls within Western circles to utilize seized funds for Kyiv’s defense and reconstruction efforts.

Despite ongoing tensions, Stubb expressed confidence that the United States and Europe remain united, despite Russia’s attempts to sow division between them. However, he admitted that the recent dispute between former U.S. President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky ultimately played into the hands of Russian President Vladimir Putin.

The debate over Ukraine’s NATO membership remains a contentious issue within the alliance, as member states weigh security concerns against the risk of further escalation with Moscow.

By Khagan Isayev