Ex-NATO chief proposes Ukraine join alliance without occupied territories

He said this in an interview with The Guardian, Ukrinform reports.

"The time has come to take the next step and extend an invitation for Ukraine to join NATO. We need a new European security architecture in which Ukraine is in the heart of NATO," Rasmussen said.

Rasmussen said that a plan for partial Ukraine membership "would not symbolize a freezing of the conflict, but would instead mark a determination to warn Russia that it cannot prevent Ukraine joining the western defensive alliance."

He argued that by excluding from NATO territory held by Russia, "the threat of a Russia-NATO conflict would be reduced."

"The absolute credibility of Article 5 guarantees would deter Russia from mounting attacks inside the Ukrainian territory inside NATO and so free up Ukrainian forces to go to the frontline. To make article 5 credible there would have to be a clear message to Russia that any violation of NATO territory would be met by a response," he said.

He also set out three principal reasons for Ukraine to be offered membership. First, Ukraine inside NATO would act as "a bulwark against a still-aggressive Russia."

Second, he said: "We have to realize that grey zones are danger zones. Neutrality in the old sense of the world does not exist any more. Grey zones become a temptation for Putin to attack."

Finally, he argued the Ukrainian army is now the most battle hardened army in Europe and would be an asset and example to other European powers.