Rasmussen-Yermak Intl Task Force suggests setting time frame for Ukraine's affiliation with NATO – until July 2028
The International Task Force on Security and Euro-Atlantic Integration of Ukraine, co-chaired by Head of the President’s Office Andriy Yermak and former NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen, has published a report with a rationale for the necessity of Ukraine's future membership in NATO and concrete proposals for it.
“First of all, the document states that at the NATO Summit, which will take place in July in Washington, the Alliance should extend an invitation to Ukraine to begin membership talks and invite the Ukraine-NATO Council to specify the terms of membership,” the press service of the President’s Office said.
"A credible prospect of NATO membership is a way to convince Russia that it has nothing to gain from waging war. Inviting Ukraine to start accession talks now is a way to send a clear message to Russia that it needs to end the war and give Ukraine a chance for a just peace," the message reads.
The Rasmussen-Yermak International Task Force proposes to set a clear timeframe for Ukraine's accession to NATO – no later than July 2028, subject to the fulfillment of specific conditions.
It is also proposed to strengthen the efforts of Ukraine and its allies aimed at hindering Russia's operational success in the air, at sea and on the ground, lifting all reservations on the types of conventional weapons supplied to Ukraine and, importantly, on how they can be used against military targets in Russia.
It is proposed that NATO members commit to spending 0.25% of their GDP on military aid to Ukraine, as well as unlocking $300 billion in frozen Russian assets and using them to support Ukraine.
The head of the President’s Office emphasized that failure to extend an invitation to Ukraine at the Washington Summit could further intensify Russian aggression.
"Strong and clear decisions at the NATO Summit in July will be extremely important for the future just peace in Ukraine and the entire Euro-Atlantic region. They will also be a good motivation and strong support for the Ukrainian military and all our citizens," he emphasized.
