UK official: Ukraine unlikely to receive NATO invitation at alliance's upcoming summit

Pat McFadden, Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and UK Minister for the Cabinet Office, has stated that Ukraine is unlikely to receive an invitation to join NATO during the alliance's upcoming foreign ministers' meeting next week.

“We want Ukraine to have a secure future, but I do not think our Foreign Secretary [David Lammy] or NATO as a whole will be discussing in detail what that future might look like at this stage. Any application must be carefully reviewed by NATO,” McFadden said emphasising the complexity of the process, Caliber.Az writes via foreign media.

The statement follows earlier calls from Ukrainian Deputy Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiha for NATO to invite Kyiv to become a member during the ministerial meeting in Brussels on December 3-4.

McFadden further highlighted the uncertainty surrounding Ukraine's potential membership. “I don’t know if Ukraine will be part of NATO in the future. I cannot predict that,” he said.

Territorial concessions and conflict tesolution

When asked whether the UK government would support a resolution to the conflict in Ukraine that involves territorial concessions to Russia, McFadden reiterated the importance of Ukrainian sovereignty in decision-making. “Kyiv has the right to make its own decisions,” he stated.

However, McFadden acknowledged the uncertainty regarding U.S. policy under President-elect Donald Trump, particularly on territorial issues. “I don’t know what position President-elect Donald Trump holds on territorial questions,” he added.

Context

McFadden’s comments reflect ongoing debates within NATO and allied nations about Ukraine’s future within the alliance and broader security architecture. While Ukraine continues to advocate for NATO membership as a guarantee of its sovereignty and territorial integrity, the alliance remains cautious about committing to such steps amidst the ongoing conflict with Russia.

The upcoming NATO meeting in Brussels is expected to address Ukraine’s security concerns, but any definitive decisions on membership are unlikely, underscoring the complex dynamics at play.

By Khagan Isayev