Ukraine has become de facto member of NATO – Defence Minister

The Ukrainian defence minister Oleksii Reznikov says, “Ukraine as a country, and the armed forces of Ukraine, became the member of NATO e facto, not de jure by law. Because we have weaponry, and the understanding of how to use it.”

Reznikov, in an interview,  said he believed Ukraine would receive long-sought weapons, including tanks and fighter jets, as both Ukraine and Russia seemed to be preparing for new offensives in the spring.

He added that “the concern about the next level of escalation, for me, is some kind of protocol,” as western countries – once concerned that military assistance could be seen as an escalation by Russia – change their thinking approach.

For the defence minister, Russian President Vladimir Putin has framed his invasion of Ukraine as an existential battle against Western countries that want to weaken Russia. Russian figures have argued they are fighting Nato in Ukraine, as the West has supplied the country with weapons in what they see as a war of aggression. Ukraine, for years, has sought to join Nato, something President Putin has described as a security threat to Russia.

However, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has pushed for fast-track accession. Still, it is unclear whether full membership is something the alliance members will seriously consider even after the war is over, despite pledges of support. Reznikov, meanwhile, denied that his comments would be seen as controversial, not only by Russia but, perhaps, by Nato itself, as the US-led alliance, though supportive of Ukraine, has taken steps not to be seen as a party to the conflict.

“Why would it be controversial? It’s true. It’s a fact. I’m sure that in the near future, we’ll became member of Nato, de jure. Nato is an alliance of the US and 29 European countries formed after World War Two. Article 5 of its treaty says, an armed attack against one or more of them in Europe or North America shall be considered an attack against them all,” Reznikov stated.

The Russian offensive is led by the mercenary Wagner Group, whose founder Yevgeny Prigozhin, a long-time Putin ally, has become a vocal critic of the Russian army’s performance in Ukraine. On Tuesday, Prigozhin claimed that his fighters had seized control of the town, an allegation that was dismissed by Ukraine and, remarkably, by the Kremlin, in what was considered a rebuff to Prigozhin.

“The situation in Soledar was very difficult, as Wagner fighters were being used wave after wave after wave of attacks, leading to a high number of deaths. Mr. Prigozhin was interested in the possible economic benefits of seizing the town, home to Europe’s largest salt mines. They’ll earn money from blood,” he said.

The group, Mr. Reznikov said, “need to deliver some kind of proof to declare they’re better than the regular armed forces of the Russian Federation.” If seized, Bakhmut could pave the way for a Russian push towards Kramatorsk and Slovyansk, two Ukrainian strongholds in Donetsk, a region that has been a key target for Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Any gains would be, more than anything else, of extreme symbolic value for Russia. They would come after a series of humiliating setbacks, including a chaotic retreat from the northeastern region of Kharkiv and the withdrawal from the southern city of Kherson, the only regional capital Russian forces captured in the war.

Mr Reznikov claimed that “approximately 500 or 600″ Russian fighters were being killed every day across the country, while Ukraine lost a tenth of that, figures that could not be independently verified.” He believed Russia could be trying to gather “forces, ammunition, and weapons” for an offensive from areas it already occupies in the south and east.

According to Reznikov, Ukraine, in the meantime, needed time to regroup and rearm. “Spring is the best period to refresh the movement for all sides. We understand they’ll be ready to start, and, surely, we must be ready to start.”

Also, as Poland and Britain revealed plans to deliver battle tanks for the first time, Mr. Reznikov said he was sure Ukraine would receive “tanks, fighting aircrafts or jets, and long-range weaponry to hit targets in 300km (186 miles) as well.”

Reuters/S.O