Nearly 70 percent of Ukrainians support gradual NATO accession

Around 70 percent of Ukrainians support the idea of progressive NATO membership, a similar process that West Germany pursued in 1955, according to a survey commissioned by the Kyiv-based New Europe Center think tank.

This proposal involves NATO inviting Ukraine to join within its internationally recognized borders, but without extending Article 5 security guarantees to Russian-occupied territories until they are liberated.

“The key difference between gradual and partial membership is that the NATO invitation would apply to all of Ukraine, including the occupied territories, rather than excluding them as was the case with West Germany,” the analysts said.

West Germany joined NATO in 1955, but the eastern territories, which were under Soviet control, joined nearly 40 years later after the country’s reunification.

For the past two years, Ukraine has primarily discussed the possibility of partial NATO membership, where the occupied territories would be ceded to Russia in exchange for NATO membership for the unoccupied parts. 

However, this option has not gained support among Ukrainians, the survey found.

In reality, the occupied territories would also be invited to join NATO, but they would only fall under the defense Alliance’s security umbrella after their eventual liberation, the non-profit group said.

Ukraine’s Foreign Affairs Ministry on Dec. 3 officially rejected security guarantees that would substitute for NATO membership.