Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky will visit the NATO headquarters in Brussels next week, with the aim of securing an invitation to join the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). The request is likely to escalate tensions with Russia, which has always been opposed to Ukraine joining the NATO. In spite of this, the Ukrainian government believes that joining the military alliance will help ensure the security of the country because NATO membership obligates other members to provide mutual defense in response to an attack by any external party. Ukraine has long been interested in joining NATO, but the process has been complicated by internal political issues, the ongoing conflict in its eastern territories, and international geopolitics. The final decision about welcoming a new member into NATO rests with the 30 current member countries. The consensus approach is used in decision-making at all levels in the organization, meaning that decisions require the agreement of all member countries. The process may take some time, and there’s no guarantee that Ukraine will be offered membership.
Ukraine plans to request NATO membership during an extraordinary meeting in Brussels next week. This move has come as Ukraine continues to face tensions with neighboring Russia. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba mentioned in a statement that becoming a NATO member is a strategic goal...
