OPINION: Reasons Why America Should Expedite Ukraine’s NATO Accession

Western leaders promoting the fallacy that NATO expansion forced President Vladimir Putin into a corner that directly led to his 2014 and 2022 wars against Ukraine. Their position simply helps Russia to prolong its war of human suffering and contradicts US President DonaldTrump’s July 28 ultimatum that Putin end his war within 12 days. 

Former Secretary of State Henry Kissinger and Keith Kellogg, the current US envoy to Russia, represent those Western leaders snarled in Russia’s NATO expansion myth. Former US President Barack Obama lacked the courage to directly advocate for Ukraine’s NATO membership fearing Putin’s wrath. 

In late May, Kellogg repeated what Putin wanted by stating that Russia’s objections to NATO encroachment was “fair”. This was in response to Russia’s demands that ending the war was largely predicated upon written guarantees halting any suggestion of Ukrainian accession to NATO.

In all fairness to Kellogg, he is a brilliant military expert and ardent supporter of Ukraine. His response merely reflects a long-standing US appeasement protocol with Russia that harkens back to the 1945 Yalta conference between Stalin, Rosevelt and Churchill. These negotiations launched the Cold War that extinguished democracy in Eastern Europe, and cost 100,000 American lives in two subsequent wars – Vietnam and Korea. 

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NATO Must Prepare for Worst-Case Scenarios, Latvian President Warns

Latvian President Edgars Rinkēvičs stated that NATO must remain prepared for worst-case scenarios, describing Russia as dangerous and unpredictable despite recent diplomatic efforts to end the war in Ukraine. Speaking to TVP World, Rinkēvičs emphasized that a Russian incursion into the Baltic states would constitute a direct attack on NATO and the EU, automatically drawing in allies like Poland, Germany, and the United Kingdom.

Former US President Ronald Reagan understood that Soviet Russia was the intimidating 600-pound bear when it came to negotiating. Historically, Kremlin leaders dictated their demands to obliging Western leaders. Reagan upended this appeasement by berating Kremlin leaders. He also engineered a strategy to damage their oil-based economy, which contributed to the collapse of the Soviet Union.      

It seems absurd that Russia wants guarantees to halt NATO expansion and even more so that the US and others should accept the demand. Russia never abides by its treaties or peace settlements. Russia has violated 400 International Treaties since 2014, according to Andriy Yermak, head of Ukraine’s Presidential office.

Russia’s unprovoked full-scale invasion of Ukraine is the first step in Putin’s desire to rebuild the Soviet Union. Putin seems recklessly intent on replicating his imperialistic idol, “Catherine the Great” who once stated, “I have no way to defend my borders but to extend them.”

Concerns about NATO threatening Russia are baseless since NATO is a defensive organization having never attacked anyone. Under Putin’s leadership Russia only attacks weaker non-NATO countries. He understands that attacking a NATO country would be catastrophic for Russia and his own survival. 

Absolute proof that NATO expansion is purely a Putin excuse comes from the Budapest memorandum involving US allies and Russia. This 1994 agreement stipulated that in return for Ukraine relinquishing its nuclear arsenal to Russia it would enjoy security guarantees. The fact that Russia now laments Ukraine’s aspirations to join NATO is nonsense. This is analogous to a peaceful family being murdered by a neighbor who implicates the victim as the aggressor.

By default, the relinquishing of weapons to Russia is Prima Facia evidence that Ukraine is a peaceful neighbor to Russia.  Russia is the aggressor who violated the Budapest Memorandum by illegally annexing the Crimean peninsula and the Donbas area of Eastern Ukraine in 2014.      

Former US President George W. Bush understood that Putin’s primary goal was expansionism. During a 2008 NATO meeting Putin stated “You have to understand, George. Ukraine is not even a country”. Obviously, Putin believed Russia had an entitlement to Ukraine and the issue of Ukraine being a NATO prospect was a clever diversion. 

This entitlement representing Putin’s personal distortions are completely disconnected to any NATO threat towards Russia. As a fanatical dictator Putin is directing the annihilation of Ukraine’s people, their unique culture, liberty and freedom. This entitlement is a Russian license to commit genocide revealed in Timothy Snyder’s editorial titled Russia’s genocide handbook. It details plans to exterminate Ukraine’s 40 million civilians.

Another compelling reason to consider NATO as a nonexistent threat comes from Russia’s recent non-military strikes. During July, Russian strikes have skyrocketed with nightly attacks targeting  Ukraine’s civilian residential areas resulting in death or injury to hundreds, including children. Why are young children a threat to Russia’s existence?

Despite what the Putin apologists say, Russia’s War is pure genocide unconnected to NATO. Policy makers in Washington should adopt Ronald Reagan’s courage by Fast-tracking Ukraine’s aspirations to join NATO and place secondary tariffs on countries buying Russian oil, thereby bringing a speed end to Putin’s personal war.

The views expressed in this opinion article are the author’s and not necessarily those of Kyiv Post.