NATO not to consider incorporating Ukraine during ongoing hostilities

Latvian Prime Minister Krišjānis Kariņš has written that during the fall of 2021 and winter of 2022, the US provided unprecedented intelligence to its western partners regarding the build-up of Russian forces on the Ukrainian border (“The west must give Ukraine what it needs”, Opinion, March 1).

In Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia and Poland, we took this very seriously, Financial Times reports citing Kariņš’s letter.

“Indeed, we began to provide military aid to Ukraine before the vicious February Russian onslaught began. Stinger missiles from Latvia were among the weapons used by the Ukrainians in the first days of fighting to repel the Russian attacks on Kyiv’s airport. Since that time, all other European and NATO allies have been providing arms and munitions so that Ukraine can not only defend itself but liberate its territory,” the letter says.

According to the letter, during this year, even if hostilities are still continuing, we must formally open up EU accession negotiations with Ukraine. This is necessary for three reasons: first, this will help to strengthen the morale and resolve of the Ukrainian army and people to not give in to Russian aggression. Second, the opening of negotiations will strengthen the purpose and pace of necessary reforms which Ukraine, just like any other candidate country, must go through to become eligible to join the EU. And third, the result of a successful EU bid by Ukraine will add necessary vigour and economic potential to our single market. A win all around.

“The second club is the NATO security alliance. Of course, while hostilities continue, no one within NATO would seriously consider incorporating Ukraine, since that would immediately bring all of NATO into the war that Russia is waging in Ukraine. But eventually, and with our combined and unwavering support, Ukraine will achieve its goals,” the letter says.