Enough of NATO’s Benevolence: 4 Turn Backs on Ukraine

The NATO summit in Wales last week almost sounded as a love fest with Ukraine in the center of everyone’s attention. Words of support by the five NATO countries rained down upon Ukraine and President Poroshenko was thrilled by this historic display of favoritism toward Ukraine.

And then came the morning after.

Four NATO members denied Poroshenko’s contention that Kyiv had agreed on the provision of weapons and military advisers from five countries.

NATO officials have previously said the alliance will not send arms to non-member Ukraine, but have also said individual allies may do so if they wish. A NATO official contacted by Reuters on Sunday reiterated this policy.

“At the NATO summit agreements were reached on the provision of military advisers and supplies of modern armaments from the United States, France, Italy, Poland and Norway,” Poroshenko aide Yuri Lytsenko said on his Facebook page.

A senior US official, speaking on condition of anonymity, denied that the United States had made such a pledge. The official told Reuters, “No US offer of lethal assistance has been made to Ukraine.”

Asked about Lytsenko’s comments, defence ministry officials in Italy, Poland and Norway also denied plans to provide arms.

A Polish defence ministry spokesman, Lt. Col. Jacek Sonta, said by email, “There (was) no agreement concerning supply of modern arms from Poland to Ukraine at the NATO summit.”

NATO words of support in fact turned out to be cheap. Favorable platitudes touched Ukraine while strong condemnations were targeted at Russia. But the result turned out to be an updated variety of we’re sacred of Russia. No one is ready to call it an invasion; no one is prepared to publically offer consequential support. Ukraine is left to fend for itself – as it has always been forced to do through the ages. The NATO members, led by the USA, are only willing to compliment Ukraine like a storefront mannequin.