How to
Kick-Start a New Trans-Atlantic Era
The European Union’s
foreign minister explains his vision for a new U.S.-Europe partnership for the
next four years.
ARGUMENT |
For our part, Ukraine has no doubts about
its future. In 2008, NATO leaders hesitated to agree to a membership action
plan in part because Ukrainian citizens were ambivalent about such a step. Back
then, the prejudices about NATO nurtured by the Soviet regime and cultivated by
Russia were ever-present. But Russia’s aggression in the years since forced
Ukrainians to rethink principles of collective security. Today the majority of Ukrainians support NATO
integration, and the government will implement the will of the people.
Moreover, since 2008 Ukraine has become
irreversibly democratic and delivered on reforms in strategic spheres. The
country has built strong anti-corruption institutions, made its energy market
compatible with the European Union, launched a transparent public procurement
system, and conducted military, police, medical, and educational reforms, among
others. Kyiv’s partners have recognized the progress, including NATO. This
democratic change is what irritates the Kremlin the most. Russia does not fear
a common border with NATO, but it fears a common border with democracy—the real
threat to its authoritarian and kleptocratic regime.
Ukrainians may be disappointed in NATO’s
indecisiveness, especially in the face of their determination. After all,
Euro-Atlantic integration is not a reward for the right reforms. It is the only
way for Ukraine to succeed as a state that can protect its citizens and its
territory. There are no illusions in Ukraine that someone else will fight for
us. At the same time, a clear path to NATO membership will become a key factor
in transforming the post-Soviet space into a secure, democratic one.
It is past time for NATO leaders to begin
consultations to chart a path to membership for Ukraine, as they pledged in
2008.
In light of Ukraine’s institutional and
political transformation, it is past time for NATO leaders to begin
consultations to chart a path to membership, as they pledged in 2008. Our
common goal is to confront our opponents in the region: authoritarianism and
aggression. There is no better place to start than supporting Ukraine’s efforts
to strengthen NATO’s eastern flank by moving forward with its road map to
membership. If NATO doesn’t want to concede its play on the chessboard to
Russia, the alliance must act. Moscow, after all, will not skip its turn.
The world has changed radically and new
threats have emerged since NATO was founded over 70 years ago. But the main
frontier that the alliance defends—democracy—has not changed, and it is shared
between Ukraine and NATO. Launching negotiations to grant Ukraine a membership
action plan will strengthen it.
We must be determined and strive for
Europe to truly be able to say that it is whole, prosperous, free, and at
peace. As the last 13 years have shown, geopolitics does not tolerate a vacuum
of ideas and decisions. If we do not offer them, our opponents will.
Olga Stefanishyna is
the deputy prime minister of Ukraine for European and Euro-Atlantic
integration. Twitter: @StefanishynaO
TAGS: GEORGIA, MILITARY, NATO, RUSSIA, UKRAINE
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