Former Ukrainian ambassador to US envisages Baltic-Black Sea defense bloc if NATO support falters
NATO could split over the issue of security guarantees for Ukraine, with countries in the region having to form their own security bloc, Ukraine's Ambassador to the United States from 2015 to 2019, Valeriy Chaly, said in an interview with Radio NV on Dec. 6.
"I want to see something else – a political decision by NATO to invite Ukraine," Chaly said.
“It would be a powerful signal. There is no constant pressure on the issue of NATO membership. It has disappeared. Some agreements are being discussed, but it is not clear what their content is.”
Ukraine's peace formula, which Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy spoke about in Malta this year, cannot be implemented, so "we need to think about what can be done in these conditions," the diplomat said.
"Since we can’t get all NATO countries onboard, let's quickly gather those countries that are exposed and border Russia," Chaly said.
“I have already named them – the Baltic-Black Sea Arc. Let's talk about these countries. Let's get together and see how NATO will change its tune.
And if NATO splits like this? I'm sorry, if you are marinating us with promises, we can now make your NATO go to tatters. Not because we want to, but because that’s the way things are.”
In July, the G7 leaders announced that they had agreed on a declaration on security guarantees for Ukraine.
The President's Office announced on Nov. 28 that Ukraine had started consultations on security guarantees with the last G7 country, Italy.
Ukraine held the first round of talks on security guarantees with the European Union on Dec. 4.
Representatives of the Ministry of Defense and the European Union discussed on Dec. 5 long-term security guarantees for Ukraine, which include nine priorities:
- assistance with military hardware and equipment;
- training of the Ukrainian military;
- cooperation with the Ukrainian defense industry;
- countering cyber and hybrid threats;
- assistance in demining;
- implementation of reforms related to the EU accession process;
- strengthening the ability to control weapons stockpiles;
- support for nuclear security efforts;
- intelligence sharing, including satellite imagery.
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