In a new initiative to strengthen Ukraine’s position against Russia, Anders Fogh Rasmussen, former Danish Prime Minister and Secretary General of NATO, proposes that all NATO countries commit to using 0.25 percent of their gross national product on military support to Ukraine. This proposal was presented at an event at the Royal Danish Playhouse in Copenhagen, where Fogh represented an international task force dedicated to promoting Ukraine’s membership in NATO. Launched in January, the group is led by Fogh and Andriy Yermak, Chief of Staff to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, and has developed a detailed plan on how Ukraine can become part of the defense alliance. One of the first steps in this plan is to start accession negotiations with Ukraine in July 2024, with the goal of full membership by July 2028. “We cannot allow Putin any success in Ukraine. If he achieves that, he will be encouraged to continue. That is why Ukraine has requested assistance from the allies to defend itself against Russia’s aggression,” Fogh stated during the presentation.
He also emphasized the importance of Ukraine having access to all the weapons they need, not only to survive but to win the war. Furthermore, the task force proposes the establishment of a missile defense system located on NATO territory close to Ukraine’s borders. This system would help shoot down Russian missiles and drones, similar to how the United States has assisted Israel in defending against Iranian attacks. The proposals were presented at the Copenhagen Democracy Summit and are part of a larger strategy that includes ensuring Ukraine’s security through allies’ long-term commitments, as well as promoting the country’s membership in the EU.
This new approach marks a significant development in NATO’s involvement in Ukraine, which has cooperated with the alliance since the early 1990s but has long been considered problematic for membership due to Russia’s opposition. However, with the initiatives from Fogh and Yermak, there may be new opportunities to change this dynamic.