German expert outlines alternatives to NATO membership for Ukraine

This opinion was expressed in a commentary to Ukrinform by Karl-Heinz Kamp, an associate fellow in DGAP’s Center for Order and Governance in Eastern Europe, Russia, and Central Asia, Research Director of the NATO Defense College in Rome.

He noted that security guarantees cannot be provided by NATO as an Alliance (except for membership), except for individual members. Furthermore, he asserted that the term “guarantees” is inappropriate in this context, emphasizing that the primary focus is on the commitments of states towards Ukraine.

“A potential model could be the guarantees similar to those that the United Kingdom provided to Sweden and Finland before their official accession to the Alliance. The promises made by the United States to Japan, South Korea, and other countries in the Asia-Pacific region could also serve as a model,” the expert said.

He further emphasized that it is Ukraine that will decide the reliability of these guarantees.

At the same time, Kamp believes that calls for Ukraine to provide it with nuclear weapons as a security guarantee are counterproductive.

“It would be counterproductive for Ukraine to raise the nuclear issue. Ukraine has never possessed nuclear weapons independently; they were Soviet weapons located within Ukrainian territory, and all control was concentrated in Russia,” Kamp said.

He is convinced that rebuilding the arsenal would be a “huge undertaking” and expresses skepticism about Ukraine’s capacity to produce it due to a lack of experience, financial resources, and materials. “This is if we do not take into account all the strategic problems of deterring Russia or the criticism it will receive from the international community,” the expert added.

Klaus Wittmann, a retired Bundeswehr brigadier general and NATO headquarters officer, agreed with Kamp.

“Ukraine has never been a ‘nuclear power’ because it was unable to use the weapons deployed on its territory, as command and control was concentrated in Russia,” Wittmann said.

He also said that if the United States were to provide Ukraine with a guarantee of security after the war, “there would be no need to openly discuss what exactly that would mean.”

“Uncertainty in the mind of the aggressor” is the basis of deterrence. And in the context of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, the emergence of any additional nuclear powers is not desirable, the military expert added.

As reported, as of the end of January 2025, Ukraine has signed 28 security agreements – 7 with the Group of Seven countries, 20 with the countries that have joined the declaration, and with the European Union. However, the Ukrainian leadership has repeatedly called NATO and EU membership the main guarantee of security.