Problem NATO w relacjach niemiecko-ukraińskich w XXI wieku. Zarys zagadnienia
The NATO Problem in German-Ukrainian Relations in the 21st Century: Outline of the Issue

Summary/Abstract: The scope and intensity of cooperation between Germany and Ukraine, despite high expectations and hopes expressed primarily by the Ukrainian side, have not reached high level in the first two decades of the 21st century. During this period, the German government has not only failed to develop a clear political concept for Ukraine, but became one of the main supporters of the Russia First principle. Berlin’s need to take into account the conditions determined by Moscow’s significance for European and global security is a constant factor determining Germany’s attitude towards NATO’s enlargement to Ukraine without which the dynamics of German-Ukrainian relations cannot be properly understood. Berlin’s attitude towards this issue has been clearly and consistently negative. During the Russian-Ukrainian armed conflict, ongoing since 2014, Ukraine has not seen a clear membership perspective. Moreover, in the current situation, this issue is treated as a factor creating additional tensions and thus blocking the diplomatic routes to overcome the crisis. Such an approach, coupled with the probable permanence of the conflict, means that the enlargement of NATO to the East will probably not only be removed from the Euro-Atlantic agenda, but also “frozen” for a long time to come.

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