The best way to ensure Ukraine's security is by becoming a member of NATO. This has been proven over time through our confrontations with Russia, especially during Putin's full-scale war against our country that has lasted for more than 500 days. Security guarantees alone won't protect us from challenges that threaten our nation and democracy.
However, if a decision has been made and progress is underway, it's important to discuss how to prevent this temporary decision from becoming permanent. We can't imagine citizens of Lithuania, Poland, Finland, or any European country feeling secure in the long run without the prospect of joining NATO quickly.
To ensure effective security guarantees for Ukraine and its long-term safety, we believe it's important to focus on five key principles:
The guarantees should clearly aim at Ukraine's goal of becoming a member of the North Atlantic Alliance.
These guarantees should be legally binding for the countries providing them to minimize risks caused by changes in political situations or schedules in those states.
Prior to NATO membership, security guarantees for Ukraine should include maintaining and, if necessary, strengthening Western sanctions against Putin's aggressive regime in Russia. These sanctions should hinder the aggressor from continuing the war against Ukraine by limiting their resources and capabilities.
Assistance to Ukraine should focus on political, economic, financial, and technological support for the development of its military-industrial complex based on NATO standards. This will enhance the military capabilities of the Ukrainian Armed Forces in future.
The scale of security guarantees and assistance provided to Ukraine should match the level of security threats, the size of Ukraine, and the scale of the enemy it faces. It is definitely not about following the "Israeli model."
Furthermore, one critical ingredient missing from Ukraine's security guarantees is the guarantee of victory. The "guarantees of Ukraine's security" and "guarantees of Ukraine's membership in NATO" (which are still nonexistent) need to include the assurance of Ukraine's victory. It is high time to develop the Bavarian formula of the Group of Seven in 2022, which still sounds like "we will support as long as necessary" and fix support for Ukraine "until victory".
About the author: Kostyantyn Yeliseyev, Ukrainian diplomat. Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Ambassador of Ukraine.
The editors do not always share the opinions expressed by the blog authors.