03-07-2022, 08:14 AM
![[Image: 20220226-Ukraine_Kyiv_invasion-AFP_pic.jpg]](https://media.thevibes.com/images/uploads/covers/_large/20220226-Ukraine_Kyiv_invasion-AFP_pic.jpg)
KUALA LUMPUR – Amid growing fears that Russian President Vladimir Putin’s invasion of Ukraine could escalate into World War III, defence and security analysts are not expecting the conflict to devolve into a full-scale global war.
Although about 20 countries – most members of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (Nato) and the European Union (EU) – are pouring weapons into the former Soviet territory to help it fight off Russian soldiers, the analysts said none of them have moved to put boots on the ground.
Nato is a defensive alliance of 30 countries from Europe and North America. Ukraine is not a Nato member but it is a partner country. This means Ukraine does not enjoy the security guarantee provided by the alliance’s founding treaty.
Last Monday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy had appealed to the EU to immediately allow Ukraine to gain membership under a special procedure as it defends itself from the Russian forces.
According to a report by The Guardian, it is expected that EU leaders will be asked to discuss Ukraine’s application at an upcoming summit.
However, Ukraine would be wise to not bank on what could prove to be more empty promises.
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