Greece supports Ukraine's NATO ambitions provided conditions are met
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Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky discuss Ukraine's NATO ambitions and sign a joint declaration outlining their respective positions while Greece reaffirms continued support for Kiev.
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Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky and Greece's Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis pose after their statements at Maximos Mansion in Athens, Greece, Monday, Aug. 21, 2023. (AP)
In a joint declaration on Monday, Greece announced its support for Ukraine's NATO membership under the condition that the latter fulfills all necessary conditions for its accession to the bloc.
Signed by the Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis and the Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky following talks in Athens, the declaration noted that "The Hellenic Republic supports Ukraine to become NATO Member when Allies agree, and conditions are met, as stated in the NATO Vilnius Summit Declaration."
Moreover, the declaration also highlighted that Greece is set to continue to provide military, technical, defense, and humanitarian assistance to Kiev.
Read more: Zelensky ends up 'empty-handed' in Vilnius; no NATO timetable provided
NATO considers Ukraine membership if Kiev gives up territory to Russia
Kiev giving up territory to Russia in exchange for a NATO membership could be a possible solution to the ongoing war in Ukraine, said NATO's Chief of Staff Stian Jenssen, according to the Norwegian newspaper VG.
Addressing Ukraine's ambitions to join the military coalition on a recent panel in the Norwegian city of Arendal, Jenssen said he believed that, eventually, "it must be up to Ukraine to decide when and on what terms they want to negotiate."
When asked if this discussion took place between NATO countries, the military official suggested that talks between other members of Ukraine related to post-war plans did take place.
The proposal will likely be denied by Moscow because the core objective of the Russian military campaign is to stop NATO's eastern expansion toward the country's borders. But his statement did not resonate well with the leadership in Kiev.
"Trading territory for a NATO umbrella? It is ridiculous. That means deliberately choosing the defeat of democracy, encouraging a global criminal, preserving the Russian regime, destroying international law, and passing the war on to other generations," Mykhailo Podoliak, the top political aid to President Volodymyr Zelensky, posted on X.
Trading territory for a NATO umbrella? It is ridiculous. That means deliberately choosing the defeat of democracy, encouraging a global criminal, preserving the Russian regime, destroying international law, and passing the war on to other generations. After all, why should Russia…
— Михайло Подоляк (@Podolyak_M) August 15, 2023
A spokesperson for Ukraine's Foreign Ministry also slammed Jenssen's "unacceptable suggestion" in a Facebook post and said that such statements represent a different position than what Kiev believes of NATO.
"We have always assumed that the alliance [NATO], like Ukraine, does not trade territories. The conscious or unconscious participation of NATO officials in shaping the narrative regarding the possibility of Ukraine's giving up its territories plays into the hands of Russia," Oleh Nikolenko wrote.
After Ukraine's counteroffensive failed to achieve its declared objectives, the administration of US President Joe Biden, Kiev's biggest sponsor, has been under growing internal public and political pressure to justify its massive spending that failed to yield promised outcomes.
Amidst waning public support in the United States, escalating pressures on Western economies— including the US— and mounting critiques from American politicians and experts, there is a resounding call for the White House to establish a coherent policy outlining its perspective on the eventual conclusion of the war.
Read more: How did NATO military aid to Ukraine evolve since 2022?
