Polish Senate calls for Ukraine’s rapid accession to NATO through extraordinary procedure

"Ukraine today has the strongest army on the continent with extraordinary combat experience," says the resolution calling to admit Ukraine by an extraordinary procedure, like Finland and Sweden Poland's Senate has unanimously passed a resolution in favor of Ukraine's membership in NATO, Polskie Radio reports. The resolution highlights the security guarantees, the "extraordinary procedure" of NATO accession, the Vilnius summit, and the support for Ukraine. "After a year of horrific war, we know that Ukraine, resisting Russia, is defending Europe and is a key link protecting the continent from aggression from the East," the resolution states. It acknowledges Ukraine's significant military strength, which has been honed through extensive combat experience. The resolution states, "Ukraine today has the strongest army on the continent with extraordinary combat experience," that the Ukrainian Army is rapidly rearming with NATO technology and applying military operational art and tactics that have been developed over decades among Western allies. The document highlights the necessity for "real support" for Ukrainian defenders, which can be achieved through closer political and military cooperation with NATO member states. The resolution emphasizes the Vilnius Alliance summit as a "significant stage in preparing Ukraine for full membership." The Polish Senate believes that Ukraine's accession to the Alliance should be a "political decision," as was the case with Finland and Sweden, and this should result from a strategic analysis of "challenges and threats beyond the Alliance's eastern border." The resolution urges NATO to apply the same "extraordinary procedures" to Ukraine that were used for Finland and Sweden's accession to the Alliance. "Although Sweden remains outside the Alliance structures, allies have decided to protect it. The Senate of the Republic of Poland calls on NATO member countries to apply a similar extraordinary procedure to Ukraine," the document reads. The Senate also backed the demands of countries bordering Russia for "strong security guarantees for Ukraine" and demonstrating Ukraine's path to NATO membership. On 20 April 2023, NATO Secretary-General Stoltenberg stated that the Alliance is preparing to respond to Ukraine regarding membership at the Vilnius summit.