Kissinger: Ukraine joining NATO 'appropriate' in current circumstances

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
17 Jan 22:21
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The veteran politician emphasized that the idea of a neutral Ukraine had lost all meaning since the start of the conflict.

Former U.S. Secretary of State Henry Kissinger appears on screen a panel during the annual meeting of the World Economic Forum, in Davos, Switzerland Tuesday, Jan. 17, 2023 (AP Photo/Markus Schreiber)

Henry Kissinger said on Tuesday that under current circumstances, the full inclusion of Ukraine into the NATO alliance is "appropriate" and has been so since the start of Russia's military operation in February 2022.

The veteran politician emphasized that the idea of a neutral Ukraine had lost all meaning since the start of the conflict.

"Now that this process [the Russian-Ukrainian conflict] has reached its level, the idea of a neutral Ukraine under these conditions is no longer meaningful, and the end of the process… ought to be guaranteed by NATO in whatever forms NATO can develop, but I believe the Ukrainian membership in NATO would be an appropriate action," Kissinger said during an event at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS).

He added that prior to the start of the conflict, he was opposed to the idea of Ukraine joining the NATO alliance as this would inevitably result in a Russian "offensive".

But now, there should be no reason to impede Kiev's ascension to the alliance, he said.

Ukraine and Georgia were promised in 2008 that they would ascend the military alliance, yet none of them has been admitted still.

Russia launched its military operation for several reasons proclaimed reasons, including NATO's eastward expansion.

The country has repeatedly warned Ukraine that it will not tolerate the emergence of military offensive infrastructure on its eastern borders.

On January 2nd, NATO's Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said that western nations must be ready to support Ukraine over the long term as long as Russia doesn't show any signs of giving up.

Stoltenberg revealed to the BBC that military support would ensure the survival of Ukraine and force Russia to "sit down and negotiate an end to the war."

On the other hand, Russian President Vladimir Putin accused the West of using Ukraine to destroy his country.

Stoltenberg told Radio 4's World at One program that Russia's partial mobilization program, ordered in September, showed Moscow had "no desire to end the war at present."

"The Ukrainian forces had the momentum for several months, but we also know that Russia has mobilized many more forces, many of them are now training," he said, adding that everything indicates that Russia is prepared to continue the war.