Finnish President Alexander Stubb has called for Ukraine to be granted automatic NATO membership if Russia violates any future ceasefire agreement, aligning with a proposal from a senior US senator.
US President Donald Trump, who has halted crucial military aid to Ukraine, has ruled out Kyiv’s NATO membership, a stance also opposed by Moscow.
While Trump aims to bring an end to the war, he has rejected Ukraine’s demands for security guarantees to deter further Russian aggression.
In an interview with CNN on Monday, Stubb suggested that NATO membership should be part of any peace settlement, ensuring Ukraine’s swift accession if Russia breaches a truce.
“I think that is a strong enough backstop,” he added, emphasising the need for guarantees to uphold the peace accord.
The idea was first proposed by US Senator Lindsey Graham, a Republican and Trump ally, during the Munich Security Conference in February.
“If you can’t get them into NATO right now, my idea is to be clear: Tell [Russian President Vladimir] Putin that if he ever does this again, if there’s another Russian incursion into Ukraine, it leads to Ukraine’s automatic admission into NATO as a tripwire,” Graham told Politico.
Trump’s efforts to re-engage with Putin have prompted European leaders to strengthen defence cooperation and seek alternative strategies to end the war.
European Union leaders are set to discuss Ukraine and broader security concerns at a summit in Brussels on Thursday.
Meanwhile, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen unveiled a five-part strategy to mobilise €800 billion for European defence and provide immediate military support to Ukraine following Washington’s aid suspension.
