Ukraine has been seeking NATO membership for years but it has not been a priority for the alliance, which sees Russia as a potential threat to its security. During the 2016 US presidential election, then-candidate Donald Trump suggested that Ukraine could become a member of NATO but this was met with criticism from other members who believed it would be irresponsible to offer Ukraine membership without first addressing the issue of Russian aggression in the region.
In May 2021, US President Joe Biden and other NATO leaders held a summit in Vilnius, Lithuania where they pledged their support for Ukraine’s territorial integrity but did not offer it formal membership in NATO. This caused frustration among Ukrainian leaders who felt that the alliance was not doing enough to help them defend themselves against Russian aggression.
At next month’s summit in Washington, DC, Ukraine is likely to be offered a new military headquarters that would manage aid and weapons donated by Western countries. Instead of offering NATO membership, the proposal being considered by the alliance is for a bridge that would provide Ukraine with long-term security guarantees from NATO while also providing a pathway to eventual membership in the future.
The new headquarters would be based at a US military facility in Wiesbaden, Germany and would be headed by a three-star general who reports directly to the head of the US European Command. The mission will coordinate Western training of Ukrainian troops as well as provide aid under one umbrella.
Despite the lack of formal membership, some in Ukraine believe that this proposal is an important step towards achieving NATO membership in the future. Others see it as a way to placate Ukraine without offering them what they really want.
Ukraine’s desire for NATO membership has been met with resistance from Russia which has accused NATO of being a provocative force on its borders and has warned against further expansion.
The proposal to offer Ukraine a new military headquarters is likely to be seen as an attempt by the alliance to prevent further escalation in the region while also providing support for Ukraine’s territorial integrity.