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NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg reaffirmed Ukraine’s right to join NATO as outlined at the Bucharest summit in 2008. He stated this during his press conference on February 15, when answering journalists’ questions.
“The Bucharest decision stands. Nato strongly believes that all nations have the right to choose their own path,” Stoltenberg assured.
“The enlargement of Nato has been a great success that helps to spread democracy, freedom and ensure peace and stability across Europe for decades. So, that decision stands,” he added.
Stoltenberg appealed to the Summer NATO Bucharest Summit of 2008. Georgia and Ukraine had hoped to join the NATO Membership Action Plan, but, while welcoming the two countries’ aspirations for membership and agreeing that “these countries will become members of NATO”, the NATO members decided to review their request in December 2008.
Read also: 60% of Europeans believe NATO should come to Ukraine’s defence if Russia invades, – poll
Three out of fifteen former Soviet republics have become members of NATO. Ukraine has close relations with the Alliance, and since 2014, its cooperation with the body has enchased. The Kremlin expected to demand a guarantee that NATO won’t expand east, so Ukraine and Georgia would not join the Alliance. However, Biden’s administration states that NATO adheres to the open doors policy.
At the Warsaw Summit in 2016, in response to the changing security situation, NATO leaders decided to strengthen NATO’s military presence on the bloc’s eastern borders.
NATO presence in central and eastern Europe includes:
- Battlegroups (Enchaced Forward Presence)
- Force Integration Unit
- US missile shield
Earlier today, Secretary General stressed that there is no indication of any de-escalation on the ground. “Russia has amassed a fighting force in and around Ukraine, unprecedented since the Cold War”, Stoltenberg said ahead of a meeting of NATO Defence Ministers on Wednesday.
Read also: NATO Secretary General: Russia’s build-up the most serious crisis in decades
“Everything is now in place for a new attack, but Russia still has time to step back from the brink”, Stoltenberg said, urging Russia “to stop preparing for war and start working for a peaceful solution to the crisis.”
