Finns in NATO: a Defeat for Russia and a Lesson for Ukraine

April 18, 2022

After the launch of large-scale Russian aggression against Ukraine, the authorities of European countries started thinking about strengthening their security and defence. This is especially true of those nations that were previously neutral, namely Sweden and Finland. Many years of non-alignment were justified for them, but now those times seem to be a thing of the past.

According to Oleksiy Melnyk, Co-director of Foreign Relations and International Security Programmes at the Razumkov Centre, the actions of Finland and Sweden towards joining NATO will hardly change the position of other non-NATO countries such as Austria or Switzerland, as they are in a different geopolitical environment.

Oleksiy Melnyk

Co-Director, Foreign Relations and International Security Programmes, Coordinator of International Projects


Born in 1962 in Khmelnytsty Rgn

Education:

Royal College of Defence Studies, London, UK (2007)

Air Field Operations Officer School, Biloxy, MS, US (2001)

Squadron Officer School, Montgomery, AL, US (1994)

Defence Language Institute, San Antonio, TX, US (1994)

Chernihiv Higher Military Air Force Academy, Ukraine (1984)

Employment:

1980 – 2001 — Air Force Active Service (Cadet, Instructor Pilot, Flight Commander, Squadron Commander, Deputy Air Force Base Commander, Participant of two UN peacekeeping operations, Lt.Colonel (Ret)

2001 – 2004 — Razumkov Centre

2004 – 2005 — State Company Ukroboronservice

2005 – 2008 — Ministry of Defence of Ukraine, Head Organisational and Analytical Division — First Assistant to Minister of Defence

(044) 201-11-95

melnyk@razumkov.org.ua

oleksiy.melnyk