Boris Johnson has criticised Nato’s “mealy mouthed procrastination” and called for a timetable to be drawn up for Ukraine to join the alliance, after this week’s difficult summit in Lithuania.
Writing in his weekly column in the Daily Mail, the former prime minister said it was “no wonder” that Volodymyr Zelenskiy “found it hard” to conceal his frustration at the joint declaration released on Tuesday that stopped short of outlining a roadmap to Nato membership.
Leaders of the 31 Nato countries declined to lay out clear conditions for Ukraine to eventually join, with concerns led by Germany and the US that too firm a commitment could prompt further Russian escalation.
Johnson expressed sympathy for Zelenskiy, as the Ukrainian president tweeted it was “unprecedented and absurd” for no timeframe to be set out for his country to either be formally invited to join Nato or be granted membership.
While western leaders acknowledge Ukraine could not join Nato immediately, given under article 5 that would require all other countries in the alliance to take up arms against Russia, Johnson raised concerns that some countries may rule out the move as part of a “negotiated solution” with Russia.
“That is madness,” wrote Johnson. “Throughout this war there has been a western tendency to make the same mistake, over and over again: to overestimate Putin, and to underestimate Ukraine.”
He continued: “No country is in greater need of Nato membership. All the alliance needed to do was to set out a timetable – not for instant membership; that makes no sense as long as the war is live – but for membership as soon as victory is won.
“All we needed was words to the effect that accession could begin as soon as the war was over, on the understanding that this could be as early as next year.
“It would have been the right message for those brave Ukrainians now fighting for their lives – like struggling swimmers who suddenly see the safety of the shore.”
Johnson, who was close to Zelenskiy while in No 10 and has visited Ukraine since stepping down as prime minister, claimed the assurances released in the communique amounted to little more than those adopted in 2008.
The group of leading economies, known as the G7, also committed to plans for long-term security arrangements aimed at guaranteeing weapons supply and economic support to Ukraine while the war continues.
Johnson said the move was not enough, and added: “It is time to be strong, end the mealy mouthed procrastination – and get Ukraine into Nato as fast as we can.”
Rishi Sunak adopted a cautious public position this week, with the prime minister telling reporters he wanted to see “demonstrable progress” towards eventual membership and that Ukraine’s “rightful place” was in the alliance.
Ben Wallace, the UK defence secretary, went further in an interview, arguing that Ukraine had demonstrated it was “a healthier democracy” as it fought against Russia and that “whenever the conflict finishes, we should be prepared as quickly as possible to bring Ukraine closer”.
