Kubilius: Ukraine's NATO membership is out of reach; a European Defense Union is needed

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.

He made this announcement during a conference in Rzeszów, Poland.

According to him, Ukraine’s full membership in the European Union is a complex and lengthy process that does not ensure rapid integration of defense capabilities.

Kubilius emphasized that an effective solution could be the creation of a European Defense Union that would combine the military capabilities of Ukraine, the United Kingdom, and Norway with those of EU countries.

In his view, such a model could serve as a reliable security guarantee for Ukraine once a just peace is achieved and as an important foundation for the country’s recovery.

He also added that Ukraine’s integration into the EU single market and the new defense framework should become part of Europe’s long-term strategy.

As a reminder, NATO has clearly stated that the Alliance’s current charter does not contain any mechanism that would allow for the suspension of member states’ membership or their expulsion from the organization.

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez officially commented on reports of possible threats from the Pentagon regarding restrictions on the country’s membership in the North Atlantic Alliance.