European Leaders in Paris to Discuss Ukraine’s Automatic NATO Membership if Russia Breaks Ceasefire

European leaders will discuss the possibility of Ukraine automatically joining NATO if Russia violates a ceasefire following a potential peace agreement, The Guardian reported on February 16, citing European diplomatic sources.

According to the report, the summit will be attended by French President Emmanuel Macron, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, as well as representatives from Italy and Denmark.

NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen will also participate.

The meeting will be focused on discussing what defense capabilities Europe could provide to give Ukraine credible security guarantees, including a plan for Ukraine to be given automatic NATO membership in the event of a clear ceasefire breach by Russia, The Guardian wrote.

The proposal to tie Ukraine’s NATO membership to Russian ceasefire violations was initially raised by some U.S. senators and has since gained support from European leaders, including Finnish President Alexander Stubb.

“He insists that the door must remain firmly closed to Russian fantasies about spheres of influence,” Stubb stated.

Earlier, Starmer declared he is “ready and willing” to deploy British troops to Ukraine to enforce a potential peace deal.