Summary:
Ukraine’s membership in NATO has been contentious in Washington for a long time. Rep. Mike Quigley, who visited Kyiv and talked with Zelenskyy, believes the U.S. should support Ukraine’s membership. Some previous President Donald Trump associates have attempted to persuade Ukraine to commit to not joining NATO. Ukrainian Ambassador to the United States Andriy Zelenskyy pleaded for NATO membership in response to Russian President Vladimir Putin’s annexation of four eastern Ukrainian territories. Ukraine has long maintained that it won’t stop fighting until Russian forces leave the nation and will “forcefully” reclaim the annexed territories.
Her comments were made just before the House passed a package providing $12 billion in aid to Ukraine as the battle enters the crucial winter months. Lawmakers outside the Capitol hosted a group of Ukrainian lawmakers as Pelosi spoke, and they heard a different message.
Rep. Mike Quigley (D-Ill.), who recently visited Kyiv and talked with Zelenskyy, stated that the Ukraine battle is why NATO was created in the first place. “After the Second World War, we realised that an authoritarian regime cannot destroy a democratic nation. We ought to support this, in my opinion.
The U.S.’s obligation to militarily defend any member nation attacked under Article 5 of the charter has made Ukraine’s NATO membership contentious in Washington for a long time. In the past ten years, as the likelihood of a larger-scale Russian invasion increased, Ukraine sought those security guarantees even as many Americans grew concerned about the possibility of going to war with Russia.
Due to Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine and its announced forced annexations, the West worries that Ukraine’s immediate admission to NATO—which requires the unanimous consent of all 30 member nations—would precipitate conflict between the United States and Russia.
Even though the United States believed that Vladimir Putin would invade Ukraine anyhow and was only searching for a pretext, some previous President Donald Trump associates have attempted to persuade Ukraine to commit to not joining NATO.
In a video speech on Friday, Zelenskyy pleaded for quick NATO membership in response to Putin’s announcement that Russia will annex four territories in eastern Ukraine.
“We rely on one another, support one another, and look out for one another. The alliance is what it is in reality. According to Zelenskyy, Ukraine is currently applying to make it de jure.
Putin promised to use all of his authority to defend the four areas after forced annexation referendums this week during a ceremony on Friday at the Kremlin.
The United States and Europe denounced the referendums as an excuse for furthering the violation of Ukraine’s sovereignty. In response to Putin’s most recent action, President Joe Biden declared that the United States would impose new penalties on Moscow.
During his speech, Putin urged Kiev to halt its military operations and declared that Moscow was willing to engage in talks, even though Ukraine has long maintained that it won’t stop fighting until Russian forces leave the nation.
Zelenskyy retorted that while Ukraine was willing to negotiate, doing so with Putin would be “impossible” and need to be done with a different Russian leader.
During his Friday visit to Washington, Ukrainian legislator David Arakhamia declared, “We are willing to talk to Russia, but not to Putin.” Arakhamia further promised Ukraine would “forcefully” reclaim the annexation-related eastern territories.
Analysis by: Advocacy Unified Network
