NATO is set to drop the requirement for Ukraine to go through a Membership Action Plan (MAP) to join the alliance, AFP reported on Monday.
The MAP is designed to ensure aspiring NATO members make reforms to meet certain political, economic, and military standards to join the alliance. Waiving the MAP would speed up Ukrainian membership if NATO ever formally invites Kyiv to join.
Between 1999 and 2020, every new NATO member joined the alliance through a MAP, which is tailored to each country. However, Finland and Sweden were invited to join the alliance last year without having to go through the MAP process.
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba welcomed NATO’s expected decision to drop the MAP requirement but is asking for more as Kyiv seeks a formal invitation to join the alliance, which is unlikely.
“Following intensive talks, NATO allies have reached consensus on removing MAP from Ukraine’s path to membership. I welcome this long-awaited decision that shortens our path to NATO. It is also the best moment to offer clarity on the invitation to Ukraine to become member,” Kuleba wrote on Twitter.
On Friday, President Biden said Ukraine couldn’t join NATO while it’s fighting a war with Russia because it would mean the alliance is at war with Russia. He also suggested it would take a long time for Ukraine to join, even after the war.
According to Reuters, NATO officials are working on an agreement on the wording of a communique that will be issued at the two-day NATO summit in Vilnius that starts Tuesday. NATO is expected to compromise and give Ukraine some sort of new commitment, such as waiving the MAP requirement.
NATO first pledged that Ukraine could eventually join the alliance at a 2008 summit in Bucharest, but Kyiv has never been given a timeline or a concrete roadmap toward membership. Ukrainian entry into NATO is a major redline for Russia, so any new NATO commitments will likely prolong the war.
Drop the MAP, the slippery slope is greased — NATO the world empire of rootless cosmopolitans. An ever expanding world of allegiances of military, political establishment elites. The very worst of capitalism is the endless drive to use new inventions, technology, communication to make money for the military-industrial complex, it’s an endless loop.
Forget global warming and worry about nuclear winter!
“NATO to Drop Membership Action Plan for Ukraine Ukraine welcomed the move but is asking for more”
One more step toward Armageddon!
Ukraine in NATO, small nukes flying and big nukes following.
Surely you must be joking?
Many of us grew up hiding under classroom desks and during the Cuban Missile crisis we thought the end of the world was coming. Our children and grandchildren do not deserve this.
I remember those days. I lost my virginity on a duck-and-cover drill.
I could help you look for it if you help me find my glasses.
They have Finland and Sweden, Russia has lost the majority of their modern tanks, they have paid a very high price no need to push our luck much further time to begin to encourage negotiation.
Been readin’ the funnies again, I see.
So you think Russia needs more beating? Well OK
Oh no! Not the sanctions again! Russia is still suffering from the last package. Have mercy! Russian children are suffering on pure bread, butter and caviar diet without American best GMO MicDolands and Cоck Cola.
It’s true! Putin lost pretty much all Leopard tanks. Donbass is full of wrecked M113s. Maxx Pros, Bradlys and them 777 things are not very lucky. Not to mention all the dead mercs in Kramatorsk and Lvov. His war is not going as planed!
I’m sure this is all going the way that Chess Master Vlad has planned. Finland in NATO, Sweden soon to be, and Ukraine rap-tap-tapping on the door.
Putin’s miscalculation with his dimwitted war will go down in history as one of the all time country-ruining disasters. Congrats, smart guy. You’re batting .1000.
Considering the speed of De-dollarization and the amount of countries wanting to join BRICS, NATO might be weakened extensively.
And the West’s continued belligerence will go down in history as THE “all time country ruining disasters”. And we’re talking about ALL 195 countries.
Hey, you’re back “Colin” … we “missed” you …
Sixteen days ago you put in a workmanlike shift re the Prighozin affair … all of a sudden, after total silence, yoou’re back with a swamp of comments about the “3 day 500 day” war.
New marching orders?
The MAP is designed to ensure that aspiring NATO members make reforms to meet certain political, economic, and military standards to join the alliance.
right. enforcing standards, because you can’t have just any old slap-dick joining your club.
Waiving the MAP would speed up Ukrainian membership if NATO ever formally invites Kyiv to join.
oh but what if a particular slap-dick’s house is located on sacred ground ? surely we can make an exception in that particular instance. right.
what’s that you got there, uncle sam?
“i am just waving this waiver around yo – it’s good to be king!”
Smoke and mirrors, and not very effective smoke and mirrors. Translation of message to Ukraine (and the world) follows:
“Congratulations! We have decided not to require you to complete a MAP in order to join our once-exclusive club. Because you’re special. We don’t actually intend to admit you anytime in the foreseeable future, but if we eventually do, we’ll dispense with the MAP. Hope that makes you happy, or at least makes you stop bitching and whining so much.
“Now, back to kidnapping teens and pensioners from the streets for cannon fodder. Chop chop!”
Big whoop, they knew Ukraine was not going to “work” on any of the criteria contained within that, anytime soon, so it’s a “gimme” that can be reinstituted prior to any invite.
They can issue a bunch of press releases announcing this big “concession” but it means not much.
Just a clot of prostitutes. These people are without honor.
I get your point, but I think it’s a bit unfair toward prostitutes.
Why are we trying to start a world war? Do we have any theories? I’ve been adult and conscious since 2014 (and well before), so the Democrats weird sprint towards a presumable eschaton is right there for me to see, despite all the clumsy propaganda.
Why?
Do we have some new weapon system? Do our elderly clown rulers want to go out on top? Is depopulating the planet their way of halting climate change?
Most of our prior massive, multi-year matches towards foreign war based on lies have at least had understandable reasons: resource theft. But if we destroy civilization, we won’t need Russia’s gas.
What the fuck is going on here?
My theory is depopulation. It is a very nasty theory and no matter how I try to convince myself that Kremlin is working to secure peace for all mankind, suborn facts indicate that they are working with Anglo-American parasites.