The Czech General Staff considers Ukraine's accession to NATO a logical step – Politico

General Karel Rechka, Chief of the General Staff of the Czech Army, stated that Ukraine’s accession to the North Atlantic Alliance should be the next logical step, and that a solid political consensus among the allies must be formed in the near future to make this happen. 

This was discussed in an interview the general gave to Politico. 

The Czech military official separately emphasized the high importance of Kyiv’s Euro-Atlantic integration for pan-European security, as Ukraine has now demonstrated its significance for international stability. The general stressed that today Ukraine is not merely a consumer but a full-fledged provider of security services.

At the same time, the head of the Czech General Staff acknowledged that the process of reaching a final decision on Kyiv’s Euro-Atlantic integration will not be simple due to numerous political nuances. Despite the difficulty of aligning positions, he urged allies to move confidently in this direction. The publication’s journalists note that Ukraine has long sought to officially join the defense bloc, but previously faced systematic resistance from leaders in Germany and the U.S., even during former President Joe Biden’s administration. Now, however, following Donald Trump’s return to the White House, the issue of an official invitation or Ukraine’s swift accession has virtually disappeared from the current international agenda.

Finnish Foreign Minister Elina Valtonen stated that the Ukrainian army is among the four most combat-ready and reliable armed forces in Europe.

European Commissioner for Defense and Space Andrius Kubilius stated that Ukraine’s accession to NATO is currently impossible, so Europe should create a new format for security integration.