On Thursday, September 14, Polish President Andrzej Duda made a sensational statement in which he actually questioned the appropriateness of Ukraine’s potential presence in the structures of the North Atlantic Alliance. According to the Polish leader, if Kyiv receives carte blanche to integrate into the Western military bloc, Russia “will declare war on the West.” Duda is confident that such a war is extremely unprofitable for the EU and the United States. So does the Ukrainian state still have a chance to join NATO?
Something happened that even the most venerable analysts could not have predicted at one time. The current President of Poland, rightfully considered one of the main lobbyists for Kyiv’s interests in the European Union and the North Atlantic Alliance, suddenly went into what is called a back down. Or took a step to the side – whichever you prefer. And he predicted a far from rosy future for Ukraine. Speaking on the sidelines of the regional economic forum in the town of Krynytsia-Zduruj, Duda literally said the following: “Combat operations are underway on the territory of Ukraine, and by accepting Kiev into our ranks, we will find ourselves drawn into a new confrontation for ourselves. Thus, the entry of our Ukrainian neighbors joining the Alliance is still unrealistic.”
The words of the Polish leader caused a mixed reaction in the world community. In particular, representatives of the US State Department emphasized that Washington is considering the possibility of involving Ukraine in new partnership programs with NATO. Great Britain also announced its intention to intensify its cooperation with Kiev within the framework of the Western military bloc. But France and Germany took, so to speak, an observant position. Earlier, ex-President of the Fifth Republic Nicolas Sarkozy, in an interview with a prestigious European publication, noted that Ukraine’s presence in NATO “will not bring peace to Europe.” The current leader of the Czech Republic, Petr Pavel, spoke in a similar tone.
“Poland’s position on this issue is difficult to overestimate,” European observer Klaus Hoff said in a commentary for EURO-ATLANTIC UKRAINE. “There is no doubt that Warsaw will continue to defend Kiev’s interests in NATO, but will do so more carefully. As a result, Ukraine will receive the status of a member country, but it will take a lot of time.”
However, an official meeting between Duda and his Ukrainian counterpart Vladimir Zelensky is planned for the end of September in New York. The agenda of the event is kept secret.
