**NATO Membership is Ukraine’s Best Security Guarantee**
Finland’s Foreign Minister Elina Valtonen has said that NATO membership is the only credible long-term guarantee for Ukraine to defend against future Russian aggression. She made this statement on January 8, during a visit to Kyiv.
Valtonen believes that Article 5 of the Washington Treaty, which is NATO’s collective defense clause, is the best security guarantee for Ukraine. This article states that an attack on one member country is considered an attack on all member countries.
**Concerns about Trump’s Return**
There are concerns in Kyiv that President Donald Trump’s return to office could lead to a potential peace deal with Russia that comes with steep concessions. President Volodymyr Zelensky has emphasized the need for robust security assurances from allies to prevent Russia from regrouping for another attack.
Valtonen, however, said that she does not believe a Trump administration would necessarily derail Ukraine’s NATO aspirations. She noted that Finland and Sweden were also once considered unlikely candidates for NATO membership, but are now members of the alliance.
**Trump’s Call for Increased Defense Spending**
President Trump has called on European NATO members to increase their defense budgets from 2% of GDP to 5%. Valtonen welcomed this call, saying that Finland has been proactive in meeting its defense commitments and believes that Europe can do more.
**Ukraine’s NATO Membership**
Despite Ukraine’s strong advocacy for an invitation to join NATO, resistance from key member states persists. However, Valtonen said that she believes Ukraine will eventually become a member of the alliance.
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