Publication details
FUTURE OF NATO-UKRAINE RELATIONS. NON-BLOC STATUS, PARTNERSHIP OR MEMBERSHIP?
| Authors | |
|---|---|
| Year of publication | 2015 |
| Type | Article in Periodical |
| Magazine / Source | Annals of the „Ovidius” University of Constanta - Political Science Series |
| MU Faculty or unit | |
| Citation | |
| Field | Political sciences |
| Keywords | NATO; Ukraine; non-bloc status; partnership; membership |
| Description | Over the past two decades, various aspects of the possible Ukrainian NATO membership have been analysed. However, today’s situation is completely different from the non-bloc status and urged for the NATO membership, Ukraine decided to follow the Western path. The strategic partnership with NATO and later membership is thought to be complementary to the implementation of the Association Agreement between Ukraine and the European Union. In the future, there are three possible scenarios of the NATO-Ukrainian relations: going back to the Ukrainian non-bloc status; intensified cooperation without the full Ukrainian NATO membership; and a clear road-map to the full Ukrainian NATO membership. The most likely option seems to be enforcing and deepening partnership between NATO and Ukraine in the form of supporting democratic reforms and transforming the military sector, which may possibly lead to drawing up a precise schedule of Ukraine’s accession to NATO. Refusing the cooperation between NATO and Ukraine is very unlikely. This development could occur only if Kiev changes its priorities. Last but not least, Ukraine’s early NATO membership is not very likely either, as it is impeded by this country’s unreadiness, NATO’s unreadiness and the Alliance’s lack of unity concerning this issue. |