Why Doesn’t Russia Allow Ukraine to Pursue NATO Membership?
The reason why Russia is against Ukraine becoming a NATO member is explained here.
Russia claims it feels endangered whenever NATO moves its forces toward the Russian border. With their demand for “security guarantees,” Russia is saying that countries right on its border, such as Ukraine, should not enter groups seen as competitors. Imagine Russia asking for buffer zones to keep itself secure.
Yet, how should we consider the protection of countries near Russia? They want to be protected just like Ukraine, Poland, Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania. They remember times when Russia or the Soviet Union invaded or controlled these states. Because of Russia’s actions in Ukraine, they have become afraid.
These countries have no record of moving against Russia. They want to be part of NATO, thinking it will shield them from Russia because of historical and present fears.
So the big question is: How does Russia’s right to security outweigh Ukraine’s right to security? Should Russia’s security needs truly matter more than the protection of neighboring smaller countries when Russian behavior makes them fearful?
It seems unjust – Russia focuses on its own security while ignoring the worries it causes in other countries.
