BRUSSELS — When Ukraine is ready for NATO, NATO will be ready for Ukraine. But if and when that day will come is anybody’s guess.
With Ukraine aspiring to join the 29-nation defense alliance, NATO leaders on July 11 confirmed a decade-old Bucharest Summit Declaration, which states that Ukraine and Georgia “will become members of NATO.” Point 23 of the April 3, 2008 Bucharest Summit Declaration is the key part related to Ukraine.
On July 11 in Brussels, NATO reaffirmed its longstanding policy in its official declaration: “We stand firm in our support for Ukraine’s right to decide its own future and foreign policy course free from outside interference. In light of Ukraine’s restated aspirations for NATO membership, we stand by our decisions taken at the Bucharest Summit and subsequent summits.
The 79-point joint statement, to which U.S. President Donald J. Trump agreed, also criticized Russia’s war against Ukraine and annexation of Crimea in 2014.
One key excerpt:
“We strongly condemn Russia’s illegal and illegitimate annexation of Crimea, which we do not and will not recognize. The discrimination against the Crimean Tatars and members of other local communities must end. International monitoring structures must be allowed to carry out their essential work in view of the protection of human rights. We call for the full implementation of the Minsk Agreements by all sides, and support the efforts of the Normandy format and the Trilateral Contact Group. NATO’s response is in support of this overall effort, which includes sanctions as decided by the European Union, the G7, and others, to promote a peaceful solution to the conflict and to address Russia’s actions. We urge Russia to cease all political, financial, and military support to militant groups and stop intervening militarily in the Donetsk and Luhansk regions and to withdraw troops, equipment, and mercenaries from the territory of Ukraine, and return to the Joint Centre for Control and Coordination. We are deeply concerned by the use of torture and the transfer of Ukrainian citizens to prisons in Russia. We stress the importance of the safety and full and unhindered access for the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) Special Monitoring Mission, up to and including the Russia-Ukraine border.”
It’s a significant confirmation of NATO’s policy because Trump signed on to the declaration, after earlier this month suggestion he might consider recognizing Russia’s claim to Crimea, which the Kremlin seized in 2014 after a military invasion.
NATO leaders underlined that the success of wide-ranging reforms in UKraine, including combating corruption and promoting an inclusive electoral process based on democratic values, respect for human rights, minorities and the rule of law, will be crucial in laying the groundwork for a prosperous and peaceful Ukraine firmly anchored among European democracies committed to common values.
“We welcome significant reform progress already made, in particular with the recent adoption of the law on the High Anti-Corruption Court and the Law on National Security. At the same time, we look forward to furthering progress in Ukraine’s efforts to overcome significant remaining challenges and ensure the full implementation and sustainability of ambitious but necessary reforms, which should be fully in line with Ukraine’s international obligations and commitments,” according to NATO.
NATO leaders called on Ukraine to make full use of all ways provided to it under the NATO-Ukraine Commission, in particular, the annual national program, to eventually reach its objective of implementing NATO principles and standards. “We remain committed to providing continued support to Ukraine’s reform agenda in the security and defense sector, including through the Comprehensive Assistance Package, so that Ukraine can better provide for its own security.”
Leaders also welcomed the developing cooperation between NATO and Ukraine on Black Sea security and will support Ukraine’s efforts to strengthen its resilience against hybrid threats, which combine military, propaganda, cyber and other attacks, including through intensifying activities under the NATO-Ukraine Platform on Countering Hybrid Warfare.
“We highly value Ukraine’s significant contributions to allied operations, the NATO Response Force, and NATO exercises, and welcome the contribution made by the NATO-Ukraine partnership to providing security and stability in the Euro-Atlantic area and beyond,” according to the document. ” Those contributions increase the level of interoperability of the Armed Forces of Ukraine with NATO.”
Addressing Ukraine’s interest in the enhanced opportunities within the partnership Interoperability Initiative, leaders stated that NATO will consider this in view of the decisions taken at the Wales and the Warsaw summits. “We will continue to work with Ukraine, a longstanding partner of the alliance, based on the principles and values enshrined in the Charter on a Distinctive Partnership between NATO and Ukraine.”
The full text of the July 11 Brussels Summit Declaration can be read here.
