Ukrainian Defense Minister Reveals that Country is a “De Facto” NATO Member
Jose Nino
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Ukraine’s Defense Minister Oleksii Reznikov recently revealed in an interview with the British Broadcasting Corporation that Ukraine is a “de facto” NATO member and expects the Collective West to send large amounts of weapons as soon as possible.
“Ukraine as a country, and the armed forces of Ukraine, became [a] member of NATO. De facto, not de jure (by law). Because we have weaponry, and the understanding of how to use it,” Reznikov said during the BBC interview.
BBC highlighted in its report during the interview that Russian authorities have described the Russo-Ukrainian conflict as an existential struggle between Russia and NATO. The BBC report noted that Reznikov’s comments “would be seen as controversial, not only by Russia but, perhaps, by Nato itself, as the alliance has taken steps not to be seen as a party to the conflict.”
Reznikov pushed back against the notion that his comments would be met with a controversial response. “Why [would it be] controversial? It’s true. It’s a fact,” he stressed.
“I’m sure that in the near future, we’ll become [an official] member of NATO, de jure.”
Reznikov made these statements during a time when NATO members are ramping up their efforts to arm Ukraine.
Russian authorities have stressed that continued military aid from the Collective West “can add pain to the Ukrainian people and prolong its sufferings but principally they will be unable to solve anything [or] disrupt the process of [Russian forces] achieving the goals of the special military operation.” Since the collapse of the Soviet Union, NATO has made it a point to expand into Russia’s traditional sphere of influence. Absorbing Ukraine into its fold has been one of the holy grails of NATO’s expansionist ambitions. Ukraine not only has sentimental value for Russia, it’s of great strategic importance to Russia due to its fertile farmlands and connections to Europe.
For that reason, Russia will do whatever it takes to keep NATO, and broader Western influence out of Ukraine. The US should ditch this delusional plan to integrate Ukraine into NATO and leave this entangling alliance altogether.
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