Was Ukraine Left at NATO’s Altar?

History is replete with stories of heroes or heroines abandoned by fair-weather friends at the threshold of a major achievement or victory. The free world, NATO, the United States, “old” Europe and surprisingly even the former captive nations failed to make history. They failed to open the door to NATO membership for Ukraine or commit to a solid timetable and strong endorsement of Ukraine’s accession to NATO that would truly symbolize its unquestionable support for the largest country in Europe that is facing an existential battle against its arch enemy russia.

The standard range of excuses was offered about why the salubrious group of defenders of democracy couldn’t yet invite Ukraine to join NATO including it wasn’t ready, it’s fighting a war with Russia and the silliest reason by far was that it’s not doing enough to stop corruption. If you would pick up any daily newspaper in any American city you’d find enough stories about lifestyle and government corruption to fill a college graduate course in how not to run a government.

Nonetheless, with platitudes, promises and compassion the NATO members turned down Ukraine. However, its leaders pointed out that Ukraine should be able to join the military alliance at some point in the future but they stopped short of offering Kyiv an immediate invitation and a definite date, infuriating Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. The NATO leaders said in a declaration: “Ukraine’s future is in NATO.” But they offered no timeline for the process.

“We will be in a position to extend an invitation to Ukraine to join the alliance when allies agree and conditions are met,” the declaration said, without specifying the conditions Ukraine needs to meet.

NATO did drop a requirement for Ukraine to fulfil what is called a Membership Action Plan (MAP), effectively removing a hurdle on Kyiv’s way into the alliance.

While the world waits, Ukrainians continue shedding their blood – soldiers on the front lines and civilians in their apartments or pizzerias – in defense of Ukraine and Europe against the scourge of russia.

As he arrived in Vilnius Zelenskyy assured thousands of Lithuanian well-wishers, many waving Ukrainian flags, that “NATO will make Ukraine safer, Ukraine will make NATO stronger.”

“It’s unprecedented and absurd when a timeframe is not set, neither for the invitation nor for Ukraine’s membership,” Zelenskyy said before arriving in the Lithuanian capital as a special guest. He expressed disappointment that Ukraine was not invited to join NATO.

“I travelled here today with belief in a decision, with belief in partners, with belief in a strong NATO...

“I would wish for this belief to become a certainty - certainty in decisions that all of us deserve and which our every soldier expects, our every citizen, our every mother, our every child. And is this too big of a wish?” he asked.

The NATO declaration also offered a seemingly double-sided stroke of support: “We reaffirm our unwavering solidarity with the government and people of Ukraine in the heroic defense of their nation, their land, and our shared values.” In strong language towards Moscow, it added: “The Russian Federation is the most significant and direct threat to Allies’ security and to peace and stability in the Euro-Atlantic area.”

The alliance also had recognized Ukraine’s army was increasingly “interoperable” and more “politically integrated” with NATO forces and it would continue to support reforms to Ukraine’s democracy and security sector. NATO leaders also highlighted the creation of a new NATO-Ukraine Council, meeting tomorrow for the first time, which will give Kyiv the right to summon meetings of the whole alliance.

But the decision to give no sense of timescale will be seen as a setback for Ukraine.

Even though such detail was always unlikely, Zelenskyy’s decision to say the absence of a timetable was “absurd” only emphasized his and all Ukrainians obvious frustration.

It’s rather strange. If you can separate friends from foes, the reasons for supporting the allies, then why are you curtsying to russia, the enemy?

Lithuania’s past leaders, including former presidents Valdas Adamkus and Dalia Grybauskaitė, sent a letter imploring NATO leaders to invite Ukraine to join the alliance during the Vilnius summit, the LRT public broadcaster reported on July 10.

“Gathering in Vilnius for the NATO summit, you have the opportunity to make a historic decision and invite Ukraine to NATO, without delaying and without waiting for the end of the war,” said the statement, also signed by the first head of the restored Lithuanian state Vytautas Landsbergis and signatories of the Act of March 11, declaring the country’s independence in 1990.

“Ukraine and its people, with their lives sacrificed for the freedom of us all, deserve that we all defend every centimeter of Ukrainian land. Your decision can stop russia’s aggression against Ukraine.”

On the eve of the summit Grybauskaitė noted “The accession process must start, because waiting for a post-war situation allows putin to never ever finish this war. If we really care about the security of NATO territory, Ukraine inevitably needs to be part of it.

“It’s not just the war against Ukraine, it’s the quest against our entire civilization. If Ukraine does not achieve a definitive victory on the battlefield, the West will end up in limbo. The aggressive actions against it will last for decades to come,” she added poignantly.

Sadly their pleas fell on deaf ears.

But Zelenskyy did score wins elsewhere. French President Emmanuel Macron said Paris would start supplying long-range cruise missiles, following a similar announcement by Britain. These will allow Ukrainian forces to hit Russian troops and supplies deep behind the front lines. Germany announced new aid worth 700 million euros, including two Patriot air defense missile launchers, and more tanks and fighting vehicles.

Tomorrow, Zelenskyy will meet with President Biden so hopefully they could come to a decision that will keep the alliance from shooting itself in the foot.