Ukraine’s path to Nato complicated by close ties to China
Kiev passed a new law that aims to push the country closer to Europe and Nato membership. But are deepening ties with Beijing – Moscow’s close military ally – pulling the country in a different direction?
On June 21, a new law on national security passed by Ukraine’s lawmakers was welcomed as a strong step on the country’s path to Euro-Atlantic integration and eventual membership of the Nato alliance.
President Petro Poroshenko said the legislation would improve military-technical cooperation between Ukraine and Nato and reaffirms the country’s strategic pivot to the West. His government now plans to include the law in Ukraine’s constitution.
“The idea of Ukraine joining Nato has a very strong base of popular and political support,” said Ukrainian member of parliament Svitlana Zalishchuk.
“Because of our country’s security challenges, joining this alliance is even more popular than the idea of EU membership right now. For the first time we see president, prime minister and a majority in parliament all agreeing that it’s the right path.”
But as politicians and the public reaffirm their commitment to membership of the transatlantic
alliance, some observers see a challenge on the horizon: Ukraine has also become an important strategic partner for China.