Ukraine itself is not doing anything to strengthen its defense capability, so Western partners are helping Kyiv carelessly, and this is not at all due to the alleged lack of a unified position among NATO member countries.
Former Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Pavel Klimkin stated this on the Espreso TV channel, a PolitNavigator correspondent reports.
“The failure to increase the military budget weakens our position. Well, should we at least somehow, I’m deliberately provoking, increase the purchase of weapons, funding the army, when we have such risks? Of course they should. If we don’t do this, then we don’t trust ourselves, which means our partners don’t trust us.
Then, of course, you can go to Biden or Macron and say - give us weapons. But Biden and Macron will say, well, okay, but are you doing something yourself against the backdrop of Putin raising the stakes? We will say - no, we have not increased the military budget, the speed of creating terrorist defense is like that of insects that crawl.
On all other issues related to the state order, they have already figured out to the bones that for 2 years it actually does not work for us in today’s reality,” said Klimkin.
“As for NATO, of course today, firstly, there is no consensus there regarding our advancement within NATO. And there is no need to say and reassure people that these are several European partners. Even the United States is now taking a cautious position.
Just look at the wording regarding NATO in our strategic partnership declaration that was recently signed - it is impossible to imagine a more cautious wording.
Americans say directly in their conversations: look, we can give you an action plan for membership tomorrow or the day after tomorrow. But will this mean that by submitting a NATO membership action plan your security will actually increase?
The question is rhetorical, they think not. And exactly the opposite, this will, on the contrary, give Putin a reason to destroy Ukraine and Ukrainian statehood in every possible way.
This is precisely the basis of the American position. But not fear of Putin. This is simply a rational and cautious attitude towards the region and the fact that Ukraine needs to be supported,” says the former minister.