The Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan stated that there is no consensus within the North Atlantic Alliance regarding Ukraine’s potential membership in NATO. He made this announcement during his visit to Kyiv at the end of May, noting that this issue was not raised in his discussions in Moscow, which took place the day before.
This is reported by Kyiv24
Different Positions Within NATO Regarding Ukraine
According to Hakan Fidan, the topic of Ukraine’s membership has been at the center of discussions among NATO member countries for a long time. There are various viewpoints and parameters concerning this issue, especially in light of the ongoing war. The minister emphasized that NATO member countries have different approaches, and negotiations on this matter are ongoing.
“The issue of NATO and Ukraine has been a discussion within NATO for a long time. There are different visions, parameters. Especially considering the realities of the ongoing war, this issue does not have a clear consensus within NATO. And member countries have different approaches. Of course, negotiations on this will continue. NATO has a preventive form of security provision. And here we need to consider what form of cooperation will be most beneficial for Ukraine as well. There is a European position, an American position, and our position. This issue was not on the agenda during the negotiations in Russia. This is a process that is constantly ongoing,” said Hakan Fidan.
The Position of the USA and the Alliance’s Reaction
In the evening broadcast of NBC News on May 29, the U.S. President’s Special Envoy for Ukraine and Russia, Keith Kellogg, stated that the United States acknowledges the validity of the Russian Federation’s concerns regarding NATO’s eastward expansion. He also added that the issue of Ukraine’s accession to the Alliance is currently not on the U.S. agenda, and Ukraine’s membership requires the consent of all 32 member countries of the organization.
Kellogg emphasized that, besides the United States, several other NATO countries share this position. This indicates a lack of unity regarding the prospects of Ukraine’s membership among allies.
At the same time, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte confirmed, following the April meeting of the Ukraine-NATO Council, that the Alliance unwaveringly supports Ukraine’s efforts to defend against the unprovoked aggression of the Russian Federation. He also stressed that Russia remains the greatest threat to the security of NATO member countries.