Ukraine pushes for NATO action, open to Western troops

Dec 09, 2024

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Ryan Robertson Anchor

By Ryan Robertson (Anchor), William Jackson (Producer), Jake Larsen (Video Editor)

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has expressed openness to the deployment of Western troops in Ukraine as part of a broader security framework tied to NATO membership. Speaking on his Telegram channel, Zelenskyy said clear timelines for joining both NATO and the European Union are essential for Ukraine’s future. He noted, however, that NATO membership requires unanimous approval and that the ongoing conflict complicates the process.

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The potential for deploying Western troops and Ukraine joining NATO has raised concerns about escalating tensions with Russia, which currently occupies about one-fifth of Ukrainian territory. Moscow views NATO expansion as a provocation.

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Zelenskyy’s remarks came as U.S. President-elect Donald Trump seeks to negotiate a ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine. Trump met with Zelenskyy in Paris over the weekend of Dec. 7 but has not yet outlined a detailed plan. Zelenskyy also plans to discuss NATO membership with outgoing U.S. President Joe Biden, emphasizing that Biden still holds the authority to address the matter during his remaining time in office.

NATO has described Ukraine as being on an “irreversible” path to membership. However, unresolved territorial disputes and the ongoing war have prevented the alliance from extending a formal invitation. NATO members like the United States and Germany have also expressed caution, fearing that rapid inclusion could escalate the conflict.

On the ground, Ukraine is facing relentless attacks from Russian forces. Zelenskyy reported that nearly 500 guided bombs, 400 drones and 20 missiles were launched against Ukraine in the past week. Intense fighting continues in the eastern Donetsk region, where Ukrainian defenses remain under pressure.

In Germany, opposition leader Friedrich Merz criticized Chancellor Olaf Scholz for being overly cautious regarding military aid to Ukraine. Merz said he supports sending long-range missiles, arguing that restricting their range leaves Ukraine at a disadvantage. Scholz has resisted, citing fears of provoking a broader war.

Zelenskyy reiterated his commitment to a diplomatic resolution, saying Ukraine seeks peace but also requires firm security guarantees to safeguard its sovereignty.

Meanwhile, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, in an interview with Tucker Carlson during the week of Dec. 2, described Russia’s recent hypersonic missile launch as a direct message to the West. Lavrov warned that Russia is prepared to use “any means” to prevent a strategic defeat and called it a “very serious mistake” to repeatedly test Moscow’s red lines.

Tags: Donald Trump, European Union, Germany, Joe Biden, NATO, Russia, Russia-Ukraine War, Ukraine, Ukraine aid, Volodymyr Zelenskyy

[Ryan Robertson]

UKRAINE IS NAVIGATING A CRITICAL MOMENT IN ITS FIGHT AGAINST RUSSIA–AND ITS LONG-TERM GOAL TO JOIN NATO.
PRESIDENT VOLODYMYR ZELENSKYY SAYS HE’S OPEN TO DEPLOYING WESTERN TROOPS AS PART OF A NATO-LINKED SECURITY FRAMEWORK. BUT THE ONGOING WAR WITH RUSSIA–WHICH CONTROLS ABOUT 20% OF UKRAINIAN TERRITORY–
IS COMPLICATING UKRAINE’S PATH TO NATO MEMBERSHIP—NOT TO MENTION HOW TENSIONS COULD FLARE UP IN WITH MOSCOW IF UKRAINE DID JOIN NATO.
ZELENSKYY’S REMARKS COME AS U.S. PRESIDENT-ELECT DONALD TRUMP EXPLORES A POTENTIAL CEASEFIRE. OVER THE WEEKEND, TRUMP MET WITH ZELENSKYY IN PARIS, BUT DETAILS OF HIS PROPOSAL REMAIN VAGUE. MEANWHILE, ZELENSKYY PLANS TO CONSULT WITH OUTGOING PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN ABOUT NATO MEMBERSHIP BEFORE TRUMP TAKES OFFICE, NOTING BIDEN’S CURRENT AUTHORITY ON THE MATTER.

NATO DESCRIBED UKRAINE’S POTENTIAL MEMBERSHIP AS “IRREVERSIBLE,” BUT THE ALLIANCE WITHHELD AN OFFICIAL INVITATION BECAUSE OF THE ONGOING WAR. KEY MEMBERS, INCLUDING THE U.S. AND GERMANY, DON’T WANT TO RISK ESCALATING THE CONFLICT FURTHER BY EXTENDING AN OFFER OF NATO MEMBERSHIP NOW.

ON THE BATTLEFIELD, UKRAINE FACES RELENTLESS PRESSURE. ZELENSKYY SAID NEARLY 500 GUIDED BOMBS, 400 DRONES, AND 20 MISSILES WERE LAUNCHED BY RUSSIAN FORCES OVER THE PAST WEEK.

IN GERMANY, OPPOSITION LEADER FRIEDRICH MERZ CRITICIZED CHANCELLOR OLAF SCHOLZ’S HESITANCE TO SEND LONG-RANGE MISSILES TO UKRAINE. MERZ ARGUES SUCH LIMITATIONS HANDICAP UKRAINE, WHILE SCHOLZ RAISED CONCERNS ABOUT PROVOKING A BROADER WAR.

ALL THIS COMES AS RUSSIA ACCUSES THE WEST OF IGNORING WARNINGS OVER SENDING TROOPS TO UKRAINE. RUSSIAN FOREIGN MINISTER SERGEY LAVROV,TOLDTUCKER CARLSON LAST WEEK,MOSCOW’S RECENT HYPERSONIC MISSILE LAUNCH WAS A DIRECT SIGNAL TO THE WEST. HE WARNED RUSSIA IS PREPARED TO USE “ANY MEANS” TO AVOID A STRATEGIC DEFEAT AND CAUTIONED AGAINST REPEATEDLY TESTING THE COUNTRY’S RED LINES, CALLING IT A “VERY SERIOUS MISTAKE.”

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