Ukraine’s relationship with North Atlantic Treaty Organization seems to be fading. Last year, the new administration made it clear that Ukraine is not willing to join NATO by signing a treaty with Russia allowing its Black Sea fleet to stay in Sevastopol until 2042 in return for discounted gas prices. Later in 2010, parliament passed a law declaring Ukraine’s non-bloc status.
However, Ukraine’s more pro-Moscow orientation has no practical impact on relationship with NATO, believes Dirk Brengelmann, NATO ambassador and assistant secretary general for political affairs and security policy while talking to journalists at the Kyiv Institute of World Policy. NATO itself is “trying to find some basis for cooperation with Russia,” Brenglemann said.
Whatever NATO’s future, it continues to evolve from its Cold War imperative "to keep the Russians out, the Americans in, and the Germans down," as first NATO Secretary General Lord Ismay stated. The main frictions between Russia and NATO include missile defense, something that Brenglemann noticed an interest in on the part of Ukraine.
Ukraine’s cooperation with NATO includes technical help with reducing and professionalizing national armed forces. NATO is also contributing to civil emergency planning, and will consult Ukraine on safety measures for Euro 2012.
Ukraine also deploys troops to work together with NATO peacekeepers. Currently it is the only partner country contributing actively to the four main ongoing NATO-led operations and missions. For example, Ukrainians contribute to the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan by providing medical personnel and overflight clearance. Ukraine is the only partner country providing officers to the NATO Training Mission in Iraq. This year Ukraine’s Antonov aircraft also provided airlift capabilities to NATO.
Kyiv Post: Before officials from NATO said that Ukraine will be a member of NATO. Taking into account Ukraine’s last year decision to be a non-bloc country, do you still think that we will join NATO?
Dirk Brengelmann: That is not for us to forecast … The door remains open.
KP: Having the Russian Black Sea fleet based in Ukraine until 2042, is there no possibility to enter NATO?
DB: Your government and the Russia government have decided to conclude that treaty. We have had good security consultations with Ukraine in the past. This also included the issues related to the Black Sea – but wider than the issue you mentioned, the whole Black Sea situation. If you look around the Black Sea, you realize that half of states are member states, and half are partners of NATO. It does not mean that the Black Sea is a NATO issue, but for member states and partners it is an important issue.
KP: So is Russia the biggest obstacle for Ukraine’s possible NATO future?
DB: No. I don’t see Russia anymore as an opponent. We sometimes have differences, but there is a huge potential in terms of NATO – Russia cooperation. And it has increased lately. We are doing more on counter-narcotics, we are doing more together vis-à-vis Afghanistan, transit, and helicopters etc. The level of cooperation between NATO and Russia has increased. The big project on the table now is the ability to cooperate on missile defense. That is a big discussion right now. We see our relationship with your country and your relationship with Russia and our relationship with Russia not as things that contradict each other.
KP: Apart from military and defense issues, what other use of NATO could Ukraine get? Could cooperation with NATO help Ukraine get closer to European Union membership? And in terms of investment climate – is it an advantage?
DB: I think investors like secure and stable countries. The membership in NATO and EU has had a positive impact on that impression. That is very evident. But many countries have chosen different ways.
We have in the EU countries that decided they do not want to go to NATO membership, at least for now – and I would mention Finland, Sweden, Austria and Ireland. They are member states of EU but not member states of NATO. They are very close partners of NATO. Another close partner of NATO is Switzerland, and with them we work very close together. Most of the countries applying for EU membership also applied for NATO membership.
The things that we do together under annual national program are – I believe – also helpful in terms of your goal to succeed in becoming a member in the EU. Because there are many things that are overlapping – when I talk about the rule of law etc. – this applies to the UE and NATO.
KP: How does NATO deal with countries where there is low public support – maybe have some special public relations projects?
DB: Low public support has been an issue from time to time. Here in this country we have two offices, and one includes an information center. So we are in public diplomacy. On that one I could also say that sometimes I could wish on more engagement on Ukrainian side.
KP: With President Viktor Yanukovych, will Ukraine’s relations with NATO suffer?
DB: The arrival of the new government has somewhat changed the basis of cooperation, because now there is no more goal of membership. There was clearly a decision to save non-bloc status. But the second thing – and very important thing – was to keep the momentum of cooperation.
KP: So Yanukovych is NATO-friendly?
DB: No, you won’t get me on that (laughs).
Kyiv Post staff writer Kateryna Panova can be reached at [email protected]
