Catch up on GZERO's coverage of the UN General Assembly (UNGA 78)
Scroll to the top

{{ subpage.title }}

Ukraine's NATO & EU ambitions
Ukraine's NATO & EU ambitions | Europe In: 60 | GZERO Media

Ukraine's NATO & EU ambitions

Carl Bildt, former prime minister of Sweden, shares his perspective on European politics.

First question, is Ukraine going to be a member of NATO?

Well, eventually it will. There's no question about it. There was no even formal limitation issued in the news for fairly obvious reasons. The country is in war at the moment. But at the same time, no question, there were substantial commitments by NATO, even more substantial commitment by the different G-7 nations to build up the armed forces of Ukraine long term, integrate them into NATO. And no question that Washington Summit next year is going to be a lot of discussions on when NATO formally has go to admit Ukraine as a member.

Read moreShow less
NATO membership for Ukraine?
NATO membership for Ukraine? | World In: 60 | GZERO Media

NATO membership for Ukraine?

Ian Bremmer shares his insights on global politics this week on World In :60.

Sweden will join NATO. Is Ukraine next?

Well, sure, but next doesn't mean tomorrow. Next means like at some indeterminate point, which makes President Zelensky pretty unhappy and he's made that clear, but he has massive amounts of support from NATO right now, and he needs that support to continue. So, it's not like he has a lot of leverage on joining NATO. As long as the Americans are saying it's not going to happen, that means it's not going to happen. No, the real issue is how much and how concrete the multilateral security guarantees that can be provided by NATO to Ukraine actually turn out to be. We will be watching that space.

Read moreShow less

NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg holds a press conference at the summit in Vilnius, Lithuania.

REUTERS/Ints Kalnins

Is Ukraine inching closer to NATO?

The central question at this week’s NATO Summit in Vilnius: How can the alliance provide Ukraine with maximum military and financial support while keeping its strategic options open by dodging a firm commitment to when and how Ukraine will join?

Read moreShow less
Sudan meltdown fuels Saharan instability
Navigating Ukraine's path to NATO membership | Europe In :60 | GZERO Media

Sudan meltdown fuels Saharan instability

Carl Bildt, former prime minister of Sweden, shares his perspective on European politics from Stockholm.

Does Ukraine belong in NATO, as Secretary Jens Stoltenberg said when he visited Kyiv the other day?

Yup, that's certainly the case, the one way or the other. Although, I think there will be some difficulties forging a consensus on exactly what that means at the upcoming NATO summit in Vilnius in July. Some of the Central Europeans and the Ukrainians are pressing for full membership as soon as possible. Others, the US and others, are somewhat more reluctant and would like to have a step-by-step.

What are the implications of the meltdown in Sudan for Europe?

Well, evacuating diplomats, as has been done with success is one thing but it's hardly a solution. We have faced a period of prolonged instability in the third largest country of Africa. That sort of makes Europe worried about the entire belt of instability across the Sahara, along the Sahara even more profound, with also the risk of the Russians starting to meddle in there, as well.

Read moreShow less
War in Ukraine heading to "violent" new phase, warns NATO's Mircea Geoană
War in Ukraine heading to "violent" new phase, warns NATO's Mircea Geoană | GZERO World

War in Ukraine heading to "violent" new phase, warns NATO's Mircea Geoană

Ukraine's military has lasted far longer than anyone expected when the war in Ukraine began one year ago. Much of that success comes down to Ukraine's ability to mobilize the energy of the nation, as well as material support from NATO and its allies. On the one-year anniversary of Russia's invasion, GZERO World traveled to the Munich Security Conference and spoke with NATO Deputy Secretary General, Mircea Geoană, for his candid assessment of the state of the war.

Read moreShow less
Ukraine war will last as long as Putin is in power
Ukraine war will last as long as Putin is in power | Europe In :60 | GZERO Media

Ukraine war will last as long as Putin is in power

Carl Bildt, former prime minister of Sweden, shares his perspective on European politics from a slightly chilly Kyiv:

24th of February 2022 is going to redefine the future of Europe. That was one year ago. Putin launched his insane attempt to get rid of Ukraine by military invasion. The verdict so far? Ukraine has really stood up, forming a heroic defense. It's been a strategic failure so far of a massive proportion for Russia and for Mr. Putin. The West has come together, Europe, America. A vote in the UN General Assembly earlier today, 141 nations called for Russia to immediately withdraw its troops from Ukraine. The future? Peace is not imminent. We don't know what's going to be the outcome of the battle, the battlefield is not too far from here, or what is to come. But what we need to do is to secure the future of Ukraine, membership of the European Union, of NATO by one way or the other, and change in Russia. This conflict will go on as long as Mr. Putin sits in the Kremlin. One year has passed, many years lie ahead of us in this part of the world.

Read moreShow less

Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky speaks by video link during NATO's annual parliamentary assembly in Madrid, Spain.

Europa Press/ABACA via Reuters Connect

What We’re Watching: NATO doubles down on Ukraine, Erdoğan mulls Syria ground operation, Chinese COVID protests mellow, news outlets make Assange petition

Lasting support for Ukraine?

Russia’s President Vladimir Putin hoped for a quick victory that would disarm Ukraine and replace its government. Ukrainian fighters, backed and armed by NATO governments, have shredded Putin’s Plan A. His Plan B is to inflict punishment on Ukrainian civilians with attacks on the infrastructure that provides light and heat during the cold, dark winter ahead to try to divide opinion in Europe and the United States over their long-term support for Ukraine’s government. That’s the backdrop for two noteworthy pieces of news this week. On Tuesday, NATO foreign ministers, gathered in Bucharest, will renew their vow, first made in 2008, that Ukraine will one day join their alliance. In the meantime, individual member states will offer more weapons, perhaps including US small precision bombs fitted to rockets that help Ukraine strike enemy targets deep behind Russian lines. The alliance itself will offer electricity generators, fuel, and medical supplies. The message to Moscow: You won’t win a war of attrition. Ukraine’s allies will boost that country’s defenses for as long as it takes to deny Russia a victory.

Read moreShow less

Subscribe to our free newsletter, GZERO Daily

Latest