NYT: Former US Ambassador Calls for Ukraine's NATO Membership to Ensure Peace in Europe.

The former US ambassador to Ukraine, William Taylor, wrote an article for The New York Times, stating that Ukraine's accession to NATO is extremely important for ensuring peace in Europe.

"When the war ends, Ukraine must join NATO," Taylor asserts.

Taylor explains that without Ukraine in NATO, the country will not be safe from Russian aggression, which has threatened it for many years. He also emphasizes that without Ukraine, Europe as a whole will be unprotected.

Taylor recalls the unsuccessful attempt by the US to secure Ukraine's NATO membership in 2008, which could have led Putin to conclude that the West would not support Ukraine in the event of an attack. He notes that if NATO had started the process of Ukraine's accession in 2008, Russia might not have invaded this country.

Taylor urges the US to start a campaign for Ukraine's NATO membership as soon as possible. He proposes specific steps for this, such as making the Ukrainian ambassador to NATO an ex officio member of the North Atlantic Council and inviting a senior Ukrainian officer to participate in meetings of the NATO Military Committee.

Taylor emphasizes that Ukraine's NATO membership is not about pleasing Russia and stresses the need for US leadership in this matter.

Taylor's call to the US is - "With confidence and strength, Ukraine can become a NATO member. For peace in Europe, it must become one."