Ukrainian accession to NATO taboo due to collective defense clause
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NATO countries avoid taboo topic of Ukraine's accession to the alliance as countries avoid triggering Russia any further.
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NATO countries avoid discussion on Ukraine accession
Ukraine's NATO membership quest has become a taboo issue within the alliance, according to a Politico report, with some member nations ignoring the topic in order to avoid additional tensions with Russia.
The report noted that NATO countries disagree on the details of how, when, and in some circumstances, even if, Ukraine should join the alliance.
Furthermore, some allies are ignoring the subject entirely because they don't want to rile up the Kremlin, given that they are aware of Russian President Vladimir Putin's concerns about NATO's eastward expansion.
The delicate subject of the legal requirement of collective defense is what prevents many NATO members from speaking out about Ukraine's potential membership, Politico reported.
Russia-Ukraine conflict will end with diplomacy, negotiation: Blinken
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken considered on Monday that the conflict between Russia and Ukraine will end with diplomacy and negotiation, stressing that it must be a durable and just peace.
"At some point, this will end, and it will end almost certainly with diplomacy, with negotiation. But what I think we have to see is a just and durable peace, not a phony peace," Blinken told The Wall Street Journal.
Last Friday, White House National Security Council Spokesperson John Kirby stated that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is not ready for negotiations with Russia.
"President Zelensky... also has said he believes in a diplomatic solution, but he's not ready either. So we're just not at a point right now where talks seem to be a fruitful avenue to approach," Kirby said at a press briefing.
Kirby also stressed that the US is committed to ensuring that Ukraine continues to receive necessary security assistance, adding that US President Joe Biden has not indicated that now is the time to hold negotiations with Russian President Vladimir Putin to end the crisis in Ukraine.
Biden said he was willing to talk with Putin if there was a sincere interest to end the conflict in Ukraine.
Read more: Facts point to Russia-NATO confrontation in Ukraine: Zakharova
