Volodymyr Zelenskyy, President of Ukraine, signs an application for «accelerated accession to NATO».
Photo: picture alliance/dpa/AP
The completed annexation of Ukrainian areas, in which Russian President Vladimir Putin allegedly wants to help people of Russian origin in the now annexed areas, drew expressions of solidarity. Nine NATO states in Eastern and Central Europe publicly spoke out in favor of Ukraine joining NATO. The Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy initially offered not to join on the condition that Russia withdraw and then made a formal request for membership, pointing out that neither membership nor non-membership plays a role for Putin.
And probably not for Ukraine either, because Zelenskyy must be clear that accession is not possible in the current war. Applicants for membership must not be involved in international disputes over borders. However, this has been the case with Ukraine since Russia annexed Crimea and the start of fighting in the east of the country in 2014. In the fight for his country, Zelenskyj makes it clear above all what he is willing to risk: NATO’s actual entry into the war. Even if it is only through more and more solidarity provocations.
