Petro Poroshenko, leader of «European Solidarity», stated at a security conference in Visby, Sweden, that Ukraine is already containing Russian aggression, which, in his view, poses a threat to European allies. He described cooperation with the North Baltic Eight as effective, but emphasised that there is no alternative to NATO membership for Ukraine.
Briefly about the main points
- Poroshenko spoke at a security conference in Visby, Sweden.
- The politician described Ukraine’s accession to NATO as a strategic priority.
- He considers the collaboration with NB8 to be practically useful.
- The reference to «Article 5» was a political assessment, not a legal guarantee.
- An official invitation to join NATO requires the consent of all allies.
Regional partnerships as a complement to the Alliance-centred approach
Poroshenko called for the use of all available mechanisms for international defence cooperation. According to him, the partnership with the countries of Northern Europe and the Baltic states is yielding practical results for Ukraine, but cannot replace full membership of the North Atlantic Alliance.
«We must make use of everything, including NB8, but NATO is the priority», said the politician. He described the Alliance’s collective defence system as a key security mechanism for European states and suggested drawing on the experience of Finland and Sweden, which joined NATO following the deterioration of the security situation in Europe.
The politician also warned that the Alliance could be weakened even without a direct Russian invasion of member states’ territory. In his view, the unity of the allies and their willingness to fulfil their shared commitments are crucial to European security.
What Poroshenko meant by comparing Ukraine to «Article 5»
Separately Poroshenko He spoke about the contribution made by the Ukrainian Defence Forces to deterring Russia. He stated that the Ukrainian military is countering aggression on a daily basis, which he regards as a threat not only to Ukraine but also to other European states.
The former president described this role as «a kind of “Article 5” for NATO». In his view, Ukraine has already demonstrated its ability to defend the wider European security area, as it is deterring a threat that the allies might face in the event of further Russian expansion.
The legal limits of collective defence guarantees
Poroshenko’s remarks constitute a political assessment of Ukraine’s role, rather than a statement regarding the Alliance’s existing legal guarantees. Article 5 of the North Atlantic Treaty enshrines the principle of collective defence: an armed attack against one NATO member is regarded as an attack against all allies.
Ukraine is not currently a member of the Alliance, so this provision does not apply to it. Similarly, NB8 is not a separate defence alliance with obligations similar to those under Article 5, but rather an informal framework for political and security cooperation.
Support for NB8 and the procedure for inviting Ukraine to join NATO
The NB8 comprises Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Iceland, Latvia, Lithuania, Norway and Sweden. The members of the group coordinate their approaches to European security, sanctions against Russia, defence aid to Ukraine and Ukraine’s integration into European and Euro-Atlantic structures. In 2026, Estonia will chair the NB8.
In a joint statement dated 30 April, the countries participating in the format reaffirmed their support for Ukraine’s progress towards The EU and NATO and a willingness to deepen defence cooperation. Areas of cooperation cited include military aid, arms production, cyber security and sanctions pressure on Moscow; in September, the countries also announced their intention to secure additional support for Ukraine’s energy sector ahead of the winter of 2026–2027.
NATO supports Ukraine’s future membership and works with it, in particular through the Ukraine–NATO Council. At the same time, an official invitation depends on the consent of the allies and the fulfilment of the relevant conditions, whilst the NB8 remains a practical channel of support on this path.
