Is There an Alternative to NATO for Ukraine's Security? "Shelter" Spoke with Experts

"Shelter" spoke with Ukrainian experts on security and foreign policy about this.

Former Ukrainian Foreign Minister Volodymyr Ogryzko believes that Ukraine should take the lead in creating a new combat-ready alliance. In his view, an anti-ballistic coalition could serve as a model for such an organization.

“An anti-ballistic coalition could lay the groundwork for gradually uniting those countries that are truly capable of and willing to participate in the activities of this new structure,” Ogryzko noted.

Alexander Khara, director of the Center for Defense Strategies, called the Joint Expeditionary Force (JEF) “a very cool and promising format,” since its participants understand the Russian threat and are determined. At the same time, he pointed out the bloc’s shortcomings.

He added that there are simply no other strong defense alliances on the European continent, since the OSCE and the UN are paralyzed, and bilateral agreements do not provide guarantees of protection.

Oleksandr Kraiev, an expert at the “Ukrainian Prism” Foreign Policy Council, emphasized that regional formats such as the JEF, the Bucharest Nine, or other small alliances in Central and Eastern Europe—are merely platforms for obtaining weapons and conventional protection.

“All these steps must serve as stepping stones toward full NATO membership, because without it, we will not achieve the kind of security that will protect us from nuclear blackmail. NATO cannot be replaced by any other framework in one crucial area—the nuclear umbrella,” Kraev emphasized.

As a reminder, during a discussion on Euro-Atlantic integration at a meeting of ambassadors in Kyiv, Ukraine’s Ambassador to the United Kingdom, Valeriy Zaluzhnyy, said: “Don’t believe the fairy tales; Ukraine will never become a member of NATO.” According to him, it is impossible to join an organization that adheres to World War II-era doctrines given the current level of development of the Ukrainian Armed Forces.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs subsequently stated that Ukraine’s course toward NATO membership remains unchanged. They added that, as of today, there is no other effective collective security system besides the one based on the Washington Treaty.