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AP Names Key Condition for Ukraine's Admission to NATO
If Ukraine wants to become a NATO member, its borders must be clearly demarcated, alliance diplomats said. This, they explained, was necessary to avoid inconsistencies when the principle of collective defense comes into force.
The Associated Press, citing an alliance diplomat, reported that Ukraine needs to have clearly demarcated borders before it can become a NATO member.
According to the agency's sources, such measures are necessary to avoid disagreements regarding when Article 5 of the Union Treaty will come into effect.
At the same time, the Alliance emphasizes that the necessary conditions for entry must be met. The United States and Germany claim that Kyiv cannot join NATO while fighting Russia. Ukraine's membership will require the consent of all member countries of the bloc.
U.S. Ambassador to NATO Julianne Smith confirmed at a briefing on October 16 that NATO is not yet ready to invite Ukraine to full membership. “We are not at the stage where the alliance can discuss extending the invitation in the near future,” she said.
Moscow opposes Ukraine's membership in NATO. Russian President Vladimir Putin has called Kyiv's refusal to join the alliance a condition for starting peace talks.
Moscow also recognizes the annexation of the DPR, LPR, Kherson and Zaporizhia regions to Russia and insists on strengthening the position of Crimea. Kyiv does not recognize the transfer of these territories to Russia and calls for a return to the 1991 borders. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky ruled out the possibility of ceding territory in exchange for NATO membership.
The Kremlin emphasized that NATO infrastructure access to Russia's borders poses a risk to the country.