Thread by @sumlenny

I regularly hear a mantra "Ukraine can't be a Nato member, there's war, and occupation". Well, this is not true. I'll try to explain (THREAD)
1) Sure, having Ukraine in Nato would demand a lot of responsibility from other Nato members. This is what many countries want to avoid.

2) But this is quite another argument! It can be your choice not to be responsible for peace+stability in Europe. But say this openly. Once again: the war in Ukraine does NOT mean, UKR cannot go into Nato.
3) Look at Germany. Decision to accept GER into Nato was taken in Oct1954.

4) In Oct1954, Germany was OFFICIALLY in state of war with the USSR, with thousands of German POWs in Soviet camps etc. About 30% of German territory was officially occupied by the USSR. There question of the border between Germany and Poland, CSSR etc. was open...

5) German government did not accept annexation of Eastern Prussia by the USSR, even issuing car plates for the region. The occupation of Eastern Germany was not accepted as well. German Basic Law (the Constitution) foresaw return of occupied territories back under German control.

6) From any perspective of those, who criticise the very idea of Nato membership of Ukraine, this was a disaster. I do not mention the issue, that Germany was the state that had started the WWII just 15 years ago.

7) Now we come to the question, why it was possible (and necessary!) to accept Germany in Nato - and why it is possible and necessary for today's Ukraine.
8) Nato is not an alliance for "good weather" as German say. It is a defensive alliance, designed to prevent very real wars.

9) Germany had been accepted in Nato not despite of the fact it had unstable borders and was in state of war with a mighty power - but BECAUSE of this fact. It was clear, that without the Nato umbrella, Moscow will attack Germany and start a new war, as Germany was too weak.

10) Nato membership for Germany was a clear sign of limits for Soviet expansion set by the West. This had raised the stakes of a (still very possible!) invasion extremely high and therefore prevented it. The reason why Ukraine should be accepted to Nato is the same. To keep peace

11) There is no honour and no wisdom in letting a weak partner face a real threat alone. A Nato membership for GER was a wise step and guaranteed peace in Europe for decades. A Nato membership for UKR could have the same effect. One thing is needed: a will to take responsibility.

12) Nato keeps peace in Baltic for 30 years. It is because of Nato why we don't have Russian army in EST, LV, LT, like we have it in BEL and UKR. And don't forget: EST had and still has its border disputes with RUS. It is not the border issues what keeps country away from Nato.

13) The only reason why a country which is ready to join Nato is not being accepted is the lack of willingness+courage+honour to expand the territory of peace and democracy. So let us be honest about this. This is not a question to Kyiv, it is a question to Washington and Berlin.

END of the THREAD

@HopkoHanna I am so sorry that Germany which had got all the benefits and security guarantees from its early Nato membership (as I describe in this thread), strictly opposes Ukraine's Nato membership, denying this country same benefits Germany had been granted with 60 years ago.