Europe’s Post-War Security Will Rest On NATO, The EU, And The Armed Forces Of Ukraine — Stokes

After the Russian-Ukrainian war concludes, Europe's security will be dependent on established frameworks like NATO and the European Union, along with a robust Ukrainian military force. Jim Stokes, a former NATO Nuclear Policy Director, shared this perspective with Ukrinform through UATV English. Despite Ukraine potentially not joining NATO, it will maintain a formidable military presence and remain a trusted NATO ally.

Simultaneously, European nations must devise their own strategies with Russia to prevent any further escalation and avert a direct confrontation between Moscow and the Alliance states. Stokes stressed the importance of Ukraine securing a favorable outcome from the war. The security landscape post-conflict will partly rest on key elements that have been a staple in Europe for an extended period: NATO will retain its present structure, while the European Union will fulfill its designated role.

Ukraine, in the meantime, will persist as a formidable military force within Europe. While it remains uncertain whether Ukraine will attain NATO membership, Stokes personally expresses hope for this possibility. However, even in the absence of NATO membership, Ukraine will still be a highly skilled military partner to NATO. Recently, Belgium's Air Force will be contributing to NATO's mission to monitor the airspace of the Baltic states, enhancing the Alliance's defense along its eastern perimeter.