Ukraine parliament approves national security and defense law

Ukraine parliament approved on June 21 the second
reading of the law on national security and defense, in time for the NATO
summit on July 11-12 in Brussels. The legislation, submitted by the president,
earned 248 votes (compared to a 226-vote minimum needed). It provides a general
framework that outlines national defense systems and fundamental national
interests, including ensuring Ukraine’s state sovereignty and territorial
integrity; integration in Europe’s political, economic and legal sphere; and
improving the activity of all the sectors of national security and defense to
meet EU and NATO standards. It preserves the Joint Chiefs of Staff of the Armed
Forces of Ukraine and introduces a Joint Operational Headquarters of the Armed
Forces of Ukraine.

Alexander Vershbow, the former NATO deputy secretary
general, called upon NATO to extend Ukraine its Enhanced Opportunities
Partnership status at the approaching NATO summit in an article published on
realclearworld.com on June 19. NATO launched the partnership program in 2014
for those nations that most significantly contributed to NATO missions. They
include Australia, Finland, Georgia, Jordan and Sweden. “Ukrainian
capabilities, knowledge and technical expertise would be of significant value
to the alliance,” Vershbow wrote. “No one else has as much knowledge of Russia
as Ukraine, nor as much practical expertise in combatting Russian use of
cyberattacks, disinformation, and other forms of hybrid warfare aimed at
undermining our democracies. Ukraine will also play a major role in alliance
efforts to strengthen its security in the Black Sea in order to protect NATO’s
southeastern flank.”

Zenon Zawada: Among other goals, Ukraine’s national security and defense bill
intensifies NATO integration. That would also intensify with the Enhanced
Opportunities Partnership. In which case, Russian aggression against Ukraine –
and military preparedness against the West – is certain to intensify, with the
goal of returning the Ukrainian territory under its sphere of influence or
eliminating Ukrainian statehood altogether.