Ukraine pathway to membership an achievable goal, Lithuania says

Lithuania’s president said Monday that establishing a pathway for Ukraine’s NATO membership is an “achievable goal,” at the same time as lesser security assurances have been touted by members of the military alliance ahead of a two-day summit this week.

Chatting with CNBC’s Steve Sedgwick in Vilnius, Gitanas Nauseda said various interim security assurances can be discussed when NATO members meet within the Lithuanian capital Tuesday, but he added that Ukraine ultimately had a rightful place within the military alliance.

U.S. President Joe Biden said Sunday that Washington was ready to supply security to Ukraine in the same way because it does to Israel, offering “the weaponry they need, the capability to defend themselves.” These comments were echoed by German Chancellor Olaf Scholz.

“As a short lived solution on the trail toward full integration of in NATO, it is perhaps considered. And it’s a quite helpful type of cooperation. But this isn’t a substitute for the full-fledged membership in NATO,” Nauseda said.

“I do not think that that is the ultimate goal for Ukraine. The ultimate destination of Ukraine is to be within the family of NATO alliance,” he added.

Asked whether Ukraine would receive a pathway to membership at this week’s meeting, Nauseda said it was possible.

“I feel it’s [an] achievable goal and that is a vital goal, too,” he said.

Kyiv applied for fast-track NATO membership in September 2022 in retaliation against Moscow after it said it had annexed 4 Ukrainian regions amid its full-scale invasion. NATO’s European expansion has long been considered a degree of provocation by Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Earlier Monday, Ukraine’s foreign ninister, Dmytro Kuleba, said NATO had dropped the Membership Motion Plan (MAP) requirement for Ukraine — certainly one of the foremost sticking points in accession negotiations.

Nauseda said that may simplify and speed up negotiations, and added that Ukraine was more likely to see further pledges of support from NATO members throughout the meeting.

“Ukraine needs [a] political signal but Ukraine needs also practical support, and I feel this support will probably be granted,” he said.

It isn’t clear whether Ukraine’s president, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, will attend this week’s summit, having previously said that he would achieve this provided that Kyiv got a “signal” on accession to the alliance.

Nevertheless, Nauseda said he was hopeful and expectant that his counterpart would make an appearance.

“I feel it’s extremely essential to see him here in Vilnius, especially now,” he said, highlighting the rising security risks across the eastern flank. It follows the apparent relocation of Russia’s Wagner forces to Belarus following the mercenary group’s failed mutiny just over two weeks ago.

“The safety situation in our region is deteriorating. It is not improving, it’s even not stable,” Nauseda said.

“We see additional capabilities sent to Kaliningrad region. Belarus as an in depth ally of Russia is playing a increasingly essential role. So we’ve got to bear in mind that we’ve got to take the selections to strengthen the entire eastern flank.”

One other closely watched topic on the talks will probably be Sweden’s ongoing accession negotiations, which have faced pushback from Turkey over claims Stockholm has not done enough to crackdown on Kurdish groups that Ankara deems to be terrorists. Countries need unanimous approval from NATO’s existing 31 member states to be able to join. 

Nauseda said he was hopeful that a resolution might be reached with Ankara and fellow dissenter Hungary, perhaps as soon as Monday evening.

“I’m still expecting that there will probably be some nice news, perhaps even this evening, regarding Sweden, too,” he said.