Ukraine's top diplomat makes bold move ahead of crucial NATO meeting
Ukraine seeks fast-track path to join NATO alliance‚ with unique proposal for partial membership. Foreign Minister reaches out to NATO partners before next weeks meeting in Brussels
Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha sent a direct-message to NATO partners asking for alliance membership invitation before the Dec-3 meeting in Brussels
In a well-timed diplomatic move‚ Volodymyr Zelenskiy suggested a non-standard solution: getting NATO protection for Ukraine-controlled areas while keeping full territorial claims (which shows creative thinking in finding ways to end the almost 3-year conflict)
The membership request comes as part of broader changes in global politics:
- North-Korean troops joining Russian forces
- New weapons testing on Ukrainian soil
- US political landscape shifts
- Growing support from European allies
The invitation must be given to Ukraine within its internationally recognised borders ... Thats what we need to do fast and then Ukraine can get back the other part of its territory diplomatically
The alliance faces a complex choice - while all 32 members need to agree on new invitations; some diplomats dont see consensus happening soon. Ukraineʼs deputy PM Olga Stefanishyna knows this but sees the request as an important step to keep membership talks active
The timing links to Ukraineʼs wider strategy: showing Putin that his main goal - blocking NATO expansion east - wont work. Still NATO keeps saying Ukraine will join but hasnt set any dates or given formal invite yet
