Several Nato members have expressed their support for Ukraine’s entry into the alliance. Meanwhile, Russia is relying on ‘CRINK’ allies— China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea— to bolster its war effort
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Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Source: AP
It has been just three days since President Volodymyr Zelenskyy revealed his “victory plan” for the war.
On Wednesday (October 16), he highlighted that part of his bold strategy to secure a win in the war was securing Ukraine’s future in the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (Nato) and gaining permission to use Western-supplied long-range missiles to target Russian military positions deep within its territory.
This is not a one-sided effort. At least some Nato members are in favour of giving Ukraine Nato membership.
Several Nato members have already expressed their support for Ukraine’s entry into the alliance. On Saturday (October 19), the Group of Seven (G7) defence ministers endorsed Ukraine’s “irreversible path to full Euro-Atlantic integration, including NATO membership,” in a statement signalling continued Western backing.
What is Russia doing?
While Zelenskyy courts Nato for greater military and strategic support, Russia is relying on ‘CRINK’ allies— China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea— to bolster its war effort. These nations have been vital in maintaining Moscow’s military campaign in Ukraine.
Iran has supplied Russia with Shahed drones, which regularly bombard Ukrainian cities, and deployed military advisers to assist Russian forces.
US and Ukrainian officials also allege that Iran has provided ballistic missiles, though Tehran has denied these accusations. North Korea, meanwhile, has delivered significant quantities of artillery shells and missiles, vital to sustaining Russia’s slow advances on the battlefield.
According to Ukra