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Or join NATO, which the Baltic states did at the first opportunity. Finland has always refused, although apparently they did think about it in 2007. Ukraine also had the opportunity, didn’t take it, and it didn’t work out so well for them.
When in your opinion did Ukraine have the opportunity to join NATO? Can you reference a short passage somewhere that says as much?
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I'm Canadian and agree that having a Great Power for a neighbor has a profound impact on federal policy, both foreign and domestic.
Meh... Canadians love to define themselves as "not Americans".
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When in your opinion did Ukraine have the opportunity to join NATO? Can you reference a short passage somewhere that says as much?
The MAP in 2008? It’s pretty common knowledge. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ukraine–NATO_relations
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The MAP in 2008? It’s pretty common knowledge. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ukraine–NATO_relations
It is common knowledge that Ukraine applied to join NATO. I'm interested in your implication that they were ever offered membership. I doubt they ever were because I think the United States (and probably other members) considered an offer too likely to risk a war with Russia.
Really Ukraine should have made NATO membership a condition of giving up its nukes when the USSR collapsed.
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It is common knowledge that Ukraine applied to join NATO. I'm interested in your implication that they were ever offered membership. I doubt they ever were because I think the United States (and probably other members) considered an offer too likely to risk a war with Russia.
Right, Ukraine applied and NATO responded with a Membership Action Plan, it clearly would not have done that if it didn’t want Ukraine as a member. Really Ukraine should have made NATO membership a condition of giving up its nukes when the USSR collapsed.
https://www.nato.int/cps/en/natolive/topics_37356.htm
--in other words their being invited into a MAP does not mean they would have been invited to become a member.
When the USSR collapsed, George Bush the elder was President, and he was one of the US's best Presidents on foreign policy, and no way he would've gone along with offering NATO membership to Ukraine. If the Obama adminstration was willing to do it, I find that depressing because NATO does not have the conventional military strength to defend Ukraine from a Russian invasion, and of course would be unwilling to launch a nuclear attack on Russia over the fate of Ukraine. It would be a mistake for NATO to make any public commitment it is not willing and able to keep. Credibility is essential for avoiding war.
Earlier quoted context omitted.
It is common knowledge that Ukraine applied to join NATO. I'm interested in your implication that they were ever offered membership. I doubt they ever were because I think the United States (and probably other members) considered an offer too likely to risk a war with Russia.
Right, Ukraine applied and NATO responded with a Membership Action Plan, it clearly would not have done that if it didn’t want Ukraine as a member. Really Ukraine should have made NATO membership a condition of giving up its nukes when the USSR collapsed.