In early January 2008, Ukraine President Viktor Yushchenko, Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko, and Parliament Chairman Arseny Yatsenyuk sent a joint letter to NATO Secretary General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer that stated Ukraine's readiness and determination for a Membership Action Plan (MAP) with NATO.
The three leaders declared that their country considers itself as part of the Euroatlantic security space, wishes to participate in counteracting security threats jointly with NATO countries, and is committed to participating in NATO-led peacekeeping and anti-terrorist operations. Observers commented that the complicated NATO-Ukraine relationship might have reached a turning point.
Ukraine's initiative in writing a letter suggests that it is ready to get back on the road toward NATO membership that was opened by the Orange Revolution, but subsequently fell victim to domestic political struggles. The letter, however, is not enough. Ukraine will need to show a renewed and unambiguous commitment to further political, military, and security sector reforms, and a willingness to convince a largely reluctant public of the advantages of Euroatlantic integration. Only if official declarations are matched by decisive action and visible reforms will Ukraine have the opportunity to advance toward closer ties with and eventual membership in NATO.
Similarly, NATO now has an important opportunity. The alliance has an overriding interest in a secure, stable, and democratic Ukraine. Accordingly, it needs to find an appropriate and effective response to the new ideas reflected in the letter by the Ukrainian leadership, and provide Ukraine with incentives to pursue a clear reform course. Jointly with Ukraine, NATO will have to define the next steps in building a new NATO-Ukraine relationship.
Has Ukraine made enough progress in its reform efforts for NATO to grant its MAP request at Bucharest?
Should MAP for Ukraine be postponed until 2009, allowing Ukraine to use the interim for determining and implementing further needed reforms?
What are the main challenges to political, military, and security reform in Ukraine?