Ukraine’s partners largely understand the necessity of its accession to NATO, although scepticism persists in certain capitals, said Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiha during the Geopolitical Challenges and Prospects 2025 discussion, part of LB.ua and EFI Group’s New Country project.
Sybiha stressed that a robust transatlantic security architecture is impossible without Ukraine’s inclusion in NATO. However, the list of sceptical countries is shorter than commonly reported. While the media has cited Budapest, Bratislava, Berlin, and Washington as sceptics, the Minister noted that the actual dynamics are more nuanced.
“We also understand the positions of these countries when it comes to concrete decisions,” Sybiha explained. He emphasised his diplomatic efforts to build strong bilateral relations with neighbouring nations, including visits to Hungary, Slovakia, Romania, and Poland.
Read the full interview with the Foreign Minister on LB.ua this Friday.
- Ukraine cannot formally join NATO while the war continues, but an invitation would strengthen Ukraine’s position in potential negotiations with Russia.
- On 1 December, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy also addressed the issue, naming the United States, Hungary, and Germany as sceptics. He reaffirmed that the entire territory of Ukraine should be invited into NATO and suggested that accepting the currently free areas could be key to ending the war.