Security guarantees for Ukraine must be exactly this: Historian dismisses NATO membership

Ukraine’s path to lasting security lies in blending a formidable domestic military with robust commitments from allies, as rapid NATO membership remains remains highly unlikely.

Harvard University history professor Serhii Plokhy outlined this perspective in an interview with Suspilne.

«Remember Finland and Sweden: even in their case there were countries that blocked the process. It is clear that with Ukraine there will be even stronger blocking — the United States, for example, is not ready today to support Ukraine’s membership in the Alliance, ” the historian says.

Instead, the expert urges focusing on Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s initiative to secure «Article 5-like guarantees» that mirror NATO’s collective defense principle.

«The key thing for Ukraine is a strong army. And also — this war has made it absolutely clear — leadership in technology. If those are in place, support from allies will follow. It began to arrive only after Ukrainians proved in the first months of the war that they could defend themselves, ” Plokhy stresses.

He adds that this combination should constitute the real security guarantees. But relying on only one of these elements would be a serious mistake.