Former US diplomat Kurt Volker warns that delaying Ukraine’s NATO membership only invites Putin to prolong the war. He outlines a bold strategy, including immediate NATO membership for Ukraine and a $500 billion lend-lease program to ensure uninterrupted support.
From: Euromaiden Press BY BOHDAN BEN
Kurt Volker, former US Ambassador to NATO and Special Representative for Ukraine Negotiations (2017-2019), has been a key figure in US-Ukraine relations and a staunch advocate for Ukraine amid Russia’s aggression.
Euromaidan Press editor Bohdan Ben interviewed Volker ahead of NATO’s 75th summit in Washington (9-11 July), where Ukraine’s potential membership is a central topic. As NATO members debate terms like “bridge to NATO” or “irreversible path” to membership — notably avoiding the word “invitation” — questions arise about the message this sends to Putin.
In this interview, Volker argues for a more assertive Western approach to supporting Ukraine. He advocates for a comprehensive strategy encompassing unrestricted weapons provision, direct protection of Ukrainian civilians and infrastructure, and a focus on economic recovery alongside military aid. Volker also proposes bold initiatives, including a $500 billion lend-lease program and immediate NATO membership for Ukraine.
A video version of the interview is also available.
B.B.: You’ve written about Ukraine’s road to victory. In the context of this defensive war, how do you define a successful outcome for Ukraine?
K.V.: I think that Ukraine will win, and the West will help Ukraine win. But we are not completely there yet. The West is still being excessively cautious, is too concerned about escalation, and is not putting all the tools on the table that we should.
The West is still excessively cautious, is too concerned about escalation, and is not putting all the tools on the table that we should.Kurt Volker
I think a comprehensive strategy for helping Ukraine win the war should first be military. So we should provide the weapons that Ukraine needs and lift restrictions on its use because Ukraine is fighting for self-defense. The only restriction should be international law itself, which gives Ukraine the right to self-defense and requires hitting only military targets, not civilian targets.
Voice of Ukraine 