Why is Ukraine’s army facing a desertion crisis?
Al JazeeraOct 25
Report: Zelenskyy's Bid to Join NATO Facing Pushback from Allies
Above: President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy addresses a press conference during his visit at the European Council Summit on Oct. 17, 2024. Image copyright: Nicolas Economou/NurPhoto/Contributor via Getty Images
The Facts
Ukrainian Pres. Volodymyr Zelenskyy's proposed "victory plan" for his country — which hinges on Ukraine being invited to join NATO — is facing resistance from the country's key allies, according to a report in Politico this week.
According to US and NATO officials cited in the report, the US and Germany are among key Ukrainian allies resistant to extend an immediate invitation to the military alliance, wary that such a move would trigger a wider NATO-Russia war if executed while Ukraine was still fighting the conflict.
The Spin
Pro-establishment narrative
The US and Germany have been Ukraine's biggest supporters, but it must be understood that its immediate invitation into NATO is simply not possible while the conflict is ongoing. This would lead to a wider NATO-Russia war that could escalate further still.
Pro-Ukraine narrative
If Ukraine becomes a properly confirmed member of NATO, it will show Russian Pres. Putin that he will be lost from a geopolitical point of view. As Ukrainain Pres. Zelenskyy said, Russia must recognize that Europe has borders and independent states, and everyone has the right to choose their own future.
Pro-Russia narrative
Dragging Ukraine into the NATO military alliance is what started this whole conflict in the first place, particularly NATO's cultivation of Ukrainian nationalism that resulted in a violation of rights against the country's Russian-speaking citizens. Without eliminating the root cause of the conflict, it's impossible to achieve a fair settlement.