Baerbock reacts cautiously to Ukraine’s NATO membership application
“The principle must be: We cannot trust Putin at all”
Russian President Vladimir Putin signs a paper on the alleged annexation of parts of Ukraine to Russia. In his speech, Putin offers negotiations. “I don’t believe Putin at all anymore,” says Marieluise Beck, Center for Liberal Modernity, at WELT.
After the sealed annexation of Ukrainian territories by Russia, Ukraine wants to join NATO quickly. In her reply, Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock stressed that everything would be done “to ensure that NATO is not drawn into this war”.
AForeign Minister Annalena Baerbock (Greens) has expressed reservations about Ukraine’s NATO membership request. “We continue to support Ukraine’s right to self-defense with heavy weapons, but we are doing everything we can to ensure that other countries and NATO are not drawn into this war,” she replied on Friday evening on ARD “Focal Point”. Asked her position on Ukraine’s NATO bid.
Kyiv had previously announced that it wanted to apply to join the NATO defense alliance. In general, the prerequisite for accession is that the candidate must not be involved in international conflicts and border disputes. Ukraine was invaded by Russia on February 24 and has been defending itself against the war of aggression ever since. In 2014, Russia annexed the Ukrainian Black Sea peninsula of Crimea. Russia wants to prevent further eastward expansion of NATO.
The Minister from the Greens was convinced that the Russian President Vladimir Putin is further isolating himself internationally with the completed incorporation of further Ukrainian territories. It is about “land grabbing with the most brutal violence, with methods that you can no longer imagine that people can do to other people,” she said. “And that’s why it’s absolutely clear that this brutal breach of the UN Charter can’t actually be accepted by any country in the world.” Even the countries that said at the beginning of the war that it was a European matter have now made it clear : “They are not on Russia’s side either.” It is now a matter of supporting Ukraine in its defensive struggle and making it so clear to Putin: “The world is united against you.”
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced in a video speech that Ukraine wanted to submit an application for accelerated NATO membership. “In fact, we have already demonstrated compatibility with Allianz standards,” said Zelenskyy. “You are real to Ukraine – real on the battlefield and in all aspects of our interaction. We trust each other, we help each other, and we protect each other. This is the Alliance.”
In his speech, Zelenskyj ruled out negotiations with Moscow. In his speech, Putin called on Ukraine to enter into negotiations. Ukraine is ready for a dialogue with Russia – but only under another Russian president, said Zelenskyy.
Moscow had previously organized mock referendums in the four regions where the people allegedly voted to join Russia. These so-called referenda were also not recognized worldwide and condemned as undemocratic and contrary to international law.
NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said in the evening after the request for membership from Ukraine: “We have repeatedly stated that NATO’s door will remain open.” Every democracy in Europe has the right to apply for NATO membership, he emphasized . Allies respect this. However, a decision must be made by consensus among all member states. The current focus is on direct support for Ukraine. “That is the main focus and the main effort of the NATO allies,” said Stoltenberg.
The US sees no need for an accelerated procedure for Ukraine. “Our view is that the best way we can help Ukraine is through practical support on the ground. And that the Brussels case should be picked up at another time,” said White House National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan. At the same time, he emphasized that all decisions on NATO membership are a matter for the accession candidates and the members of the alliance.