SECURING UKRAINE'S FUTURE IN NATO WITH ANDERS FOGH RASMUSSEN AND ANDRIY YERMAK - Join the Atlantic Council for an #ACFrontPage conversation with former Secretary General of NATO Anders Fogh Rasmussen, who also previously served as Danish Prime Minister, and Andriy Yermak, head of the Office of the President of Ukraine, on steps Allies should take to help secure Ukraine’s security and how to lay the groundwork for a productive NATO Summit in July.

The first stage of Ukraine’s much-anticipated summer counteroffensive has commenced. Equipped with recently delivered Western armored vehicles, tanks, and ammunition, Ukrainian forces have made some advances on Russian defensive positions in occupied territories and are actively striking behind Russian lines. Given the circumstances of Russia’s ongoing war on Ukraine, the upcoming NATO Summit in Vilnius holds added significance, as Allies are expected to discuss the steps they will take to strengthen NATO’s relationship with Ukraine and ensure the country’s long-term security.

While the Alliance’s preparations for the NATO Summit have so far indicated a focus on modest steps, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has publicly campaigned for Ukraine to join NATO as soon as possible along a clear timeline towards accession. PM Rasmussen offered a thought-provoking contribution to the debate on this subject when suggesting that some NATO countries, recognizing the critical importance of defeating Russian aggression, might consider sending troops to help defend Ukraine.

Against this backdrop, Rasmussen and Yermak, both authors of the Kyiv Security Compact, will be joined by John Herbst, senior director of the Atlantic Council’s Eurasia Center, for a virtual edition of #ACFrontPage.

ORIGINAL AIRDATE: 6/21/23