NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg has stated that it is up to Ukraine to decide when it wants to negotiate peace with Russia, downplaying comments made by a key aide about a potential land-for-NATO-membership agreement. Stoltenberg made these remarks at the Arendal democracy festival, where his chief of staff had previously caused controversy by suggesting that Ukraine could “give up territory” in exchange for peace and NATO membership.
Stoltenberg emphasized that the path to a settlement is through military support for Ukraine. He stated, “If you want a lasting, just peace, then military support for Ukraine is the way to get there. There is no doubt about that.” He further added that it is Ukraine’s decision to determine when the prerequisites for negotiations are met and what an acceptable solution would be. NATO’s role is to support Ukraine in this process.
This statement by Stoltenberg comes after three days of efforts to address the controversy caused by his aide’s comments. NATO issued a statement reaffirming its support for Ukraine, and the aide himself apologized, acknowledging that he had spoken too simplistically.
The ongoing conflict between Ukraine and Russia, which has lasted for 18 months, shows no signs of a negotiated end. Ukraine is focused on expelling the invaders from its borders, while Russia aims to consolidate the territory it has seized since February 2022, which is roughly the size of Portugal. The slow progress of Ukraine’s counter-offensive has raised questions about the duration of the war and the possibility of a diplomatic trade-off. However, such a scenario is feared by Kyiv’s political elite, as it could imply a settlement being imposed on the country.
Mykhailo Podolyak, a senior adviser to Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, criticized the idea of handing over territory, stating that “criminals must not be encouraged by the phrase ‘land for peace’.” He emphasized that Crimea and Donbas are the unconditional territories of Ukraine and that the only way to stop the war is to restore international law in these areas.
Former French President Nicolas Sarkozy also weighed in on the conflict, calling for diplomacy, discussions, and talks to end the war. He warned of the ongoing risk of military escalation and the potential dire consequences if a compromise is not reached.
NATO members have been increasing their support for Ukraine by supplying modern artillery, long-range missiles, and tanks, despite concerns about escalation. Russia, on the other hand, has not targeted NATO targets directly, although its leaders claim to be engaged in a direct struggle with the West.
However, there are limitations to the support provided by the West. While commitments have been made to help Ukraine obtain F-16 fighter jets and train pilots and ground crew, progress has been slow. A spokesperson for the Ukrainian air force acknowledged that Ukraine will not be able to defend itself with F-16s this fall and winter.
According to a report by The Washington Post, the first batch of six Ukrainian pilots will not be ready to fly the planes until the summer of 2024. The delay highlights the challenges Ukraine faces in strengthening its defense capabilities amid the ongoing conflict.
