--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: In Ukraine, there has never been a…" description: "\"In Ukraine, there has never been a consensus behind NATO membership. Even Yulia Tymoshenko was noncommittal when she was still prime minister. Georgia ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/723/heinrich-august-winkler-45367_aggressive_in-ukraine-there-has-never-been-a-consen_2390890.jpg" --- # In Ukraine, there has never been a consensus behind NATO… ![“In Ukraine, there has never been a consensus behind NATO membership. Even Yulia Tymoshenko was noncommittal when she was still prime minister. Georgia under President Mikhail Saakashvili pursued a rather aggressive stance, which stood in the way of its NATO membership. Given both states' unique…” quote by Heinrich August Winkler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/723/heinrich-august-winkler-45367_aggressive_in-ukraine-there-has-never-been-a-consen_2390890.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/723/heinrich-august-winkler-45367_aggressive_in-ukraine-there-has-never-been-a-consen_2390890.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/723/heinrich-august-winkler-45367_aggressive_in-ukraine-there-has-never-been-a-consen_2390890.jpg) > “In Ukraine, there has never been a consensus behind NATO membership. Even Yulia Tymoshenko was noncommittal when she was still prime minister. Georgia under President Mikhail Saakashvili pursued a rather aggressive stance, which stood in the way of its NATO membership. Given both states' unique relationships with Russia, concerns were justified that NATO membership would trigger Russia's reasonable fears of encirclement.” [Heinrich August Winkler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heinrich-august-winkler/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The passage notes that Ukraine never achieved consensus on NATO membership, while Georgia’s aggressive stance hindered its own accession, and Russia’s security concerns are understandable. **In simple terms:** Ukraine lacked NATO consensus; Georgia’s aggression blocked it; Russia fears encirclement. Key Takeaway Consider diverse perspectives on security alliances. Themes security geopolitics alliances Mood cautious analytical Type historical strategic When to use this quote - policy analysis - diplomatic negotiations - regional security planning Key Concepts strategic balance national sovereignty Questions to Reflect On - What steps could build consensus in Ukraine? - How can NATO address Russia’s security concerns? A Different Perspective Consensus may be hard to achieve in volatile regions. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Aggressive](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/aggressive/) [Concern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/concern/) [Consensus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/consensus/) [Consensus Nato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/consensus-nato-5954640/) [Justified](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/justified/) [Justified Nato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/justified-nato-5954642/) [NATO](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nato/) [Nato Membership](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nato-membership-2117717/) [President](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/president/) [Prime minister](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/prime-minister/) [Russia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/russia/) [Ukraine Consensus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ukraine-consensus-5954641/) [Unique](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/unique/) ## Related quotes > [We shouldn't be lowering standards for NATO membership; we have to insist on democracy, reform, market economy, anti-corruption, reformed military, contributions to common security,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-volker/we-shouldn-t-be-lowering-standards-for-nato-membership-we-have-to/) [Kurt Volker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-volker/) > [Commitment and co-operation to overcome barriers and difficulties, and determination to achieve the standards of the EU as well as NATO membership, are and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-moisiu/commitment-and-co-operation-to-overcome-barriers-and-difficulties-and/) [Alfred Moisiu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-moisiu/) > [While Slovakia did not make the first round of NATO membership, as various requirements and reforms are instituted, these actions will enhance the opportunities…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mica/while-slovakia-did-not-make-the-first-round-of-nato-membership-as/) [John Mica](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mica/) > [We stand firmly behind the decision made at the summit in Bucharest where it was decided that Ukraine could one day become a member…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arseniy-yatsenyuk/we-stand-firmly-behind-the-decision-made-at-the-summit-in-bucharest/) [Arseniy Yatsenyuk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arseniy-yatsenyuk/) > [I think that there is a bipartisan consensus that's incorrect that we should have the whole world be in NATO. For example, if we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rand-paul/i-think-that-there-is-a-bipartisan-consensus-that-s-incorrect-that-we/) [Rand Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rand-paul/) > [I was going to the heart of this matter, which is, the issue of whether Europeans should contribute more to NATO, I think, is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-gordon/i-was-going-to-the-heart-of-this-matter-which-is-the-issue-of-whether/) [Philip Gordon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-gordon/) > [My place is in Serbia if the NATO criminals bomb.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-handke/my-place-is-in-serbia-if-the-nato-criminals-bomb/) [Peter Handke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-handke/) > [Turkey's NATO membership is one thing that is forestalling the worst-case scenario - open conflict between Russia and Turkey - because neither Moscow nor…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-kenyon/turkey-s-nato-membership-is-one-thing-that-is-forestalling-the-worst/) [Peter Kenyon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-kenyon/) > [As Iraqi forces continue the liberation of Mosul, I'm pleased that NATO will be meeting the commitment we made in Warsaw to begin training…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/as-iraqi-forces-continue-the-liberation-of-mosul-i-m-pleased-that/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [I read on the front page of the Wall Street Journal that NATO is opening up a major terror division. And I think that's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/i-read-on-the-front-page-of-the-wall-street-journal-that-nato-is/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [Turkey's a valued ally, important ally for NATO, not the least because of its strategic geographic location, bordering Syria and Iraq and close to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jens-stoltenberg/turkey-s-a-valued-ally-important-ally-for-nato-not-the-least-because/) [Jens Stoltenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jens-stoltenberg/) > [Since the mid-1990s, Russian leaders have adamantly opposed NATO enlargement, and in recent years, they have made it clear that they would not stand…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mearsheimer/since-the-mid-1990s-russian-leaders-have-adamantly-opposed-nato/) [John Mearsheimer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mearsheimer/) > [“the President was deciding, for the U.S., the Soviet Union, Turkey, NATO, and really for all mankind….”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-f-kennedy/the-president-was-deciding-for-the-u-s-the-soviet-union-turkey-nato/) [Robert F. Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-f-kennedy/) > [I belong to the initiators of the... and we had repeatedly also asked the dismantling of the SS-20 but we did not connect them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/petra-kelly/i-belong-to-the-initiators-of-the-and-we-had-repeatedly-also-asked/) [Petra Kelly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/petra-kelly/) > [Ever since the end of the Cold War, it has been our paramount interest in Europe to strengthen NATO and to extend it -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-malinowski/ever-since-the-end-of-the-cold-war-it-has-been-our-paramount-interest/) [Tom Malinowski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-malinowski/) ## More by Heinrich August Winkler > [Germans argue with the Americans about many things, from the death penalty to the relationship between security and freedom. We have to be honest…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heinrich-august-winkler/germans-argue-with-the-americans-about-many-things-from-the-death/) [Heinrich August Winkler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heinrich-august-winkler/) > [In recent years, the largest parties have shied away from making clear statements about where they stand. That was a huge mistake. I very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heinrich-august-winkler/in-recent-years-the-largest-parties-have-shied-away-from-making-clear/) [Heinrich August Winkler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heinrich-august-winkler/) > [During the Cold War, the West was extremely careful not to allow the gap between the rich and poor to widen too far, first…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heinrich-august-winkler/during-the-cold-war-the-west-was-extremely-careful-not-to-allow-the/) [Heinrich August Winkler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heinrich-august-winkler/) > [Vladimir Putin is doubtlessly trying to drive a wedge into the Western alliance. When it comes to the Russian minorities in the Baltics, Putin…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heinrich-august-winkler/vladimir-putin-is-doubtlessly-trying-to-drive-a-wedge-into-the/) [Heinrich August Winkler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heinrich-august-winkler/) > [German leftists have still not understood the degree to which Russian President Vladimir Putting has drifted to the right domestically. Now, insightful observers are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heinrich-august-winkler/german-leftists-have-still-not-understood-the-degree-to-which-russian/) [Heinrich August Winkler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heinrich-august-winkler/) > [When the newly formed middle class in China begins to perceive its interests and discovers the value of the rule of law, the existing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heinrich-august-winkler/when-the-newly-formed-middle-class-in-china-begins-to-perceive-its/) [Heinrich August Winkler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heinrich-august-winkler/) > [In many regards, the West is dependent on Russia as a partner. Showing consideration for Russian sensitivities when it comes to old, historical bonds…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heinrich-august-winkler/in-many-regards-the-west-is-dependent-on-russia-as-a-partner-showing/) [Heinrich August Winkler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heinrich-august-winkler/) > [Germany is not the only country that one could call post-heroic. But there is an additional aspect for Germany when it comes to this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heinrich-august-winkler/germany-is-not-the-only-country-that-one-could-call-post-heroic-but/) [Heinrich August Winkler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heinrich-august-winkler/) [Explore all 9 Heinrich August Winkler quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heinrich-august-winkler/) ## More Aggressive quotes > [So the fool, as distinct from the scoundrel, is completely self- satisfied; in fact, he can easily become dangerous, as it does not take…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dietrich-bonhoeffer/so-the-fool-as-distinct-from-the-scoundrel-is-completely-self/) [Dietrich Bonhoeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dietrich-bonhoeffer/) > [Because of the womb being a central phenomenon in the feminine body, the whole psychology of woman differs: she is non-aggressive, non-inquiring, non-questioning, non-doubting,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rajneesh/because-of-the-womb-being-a-central-phenomenon-in-the-feminine-body/) [Rajneesh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rajneesh/) > [Good girls don't hurt other people's feelings. Good girls are not overly aggressive, competitive, or boastful. Good girls please others. But what good girls…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-jane-gilman/good-girls-don-t-hurt-other-people-s-feelings-good-girls-are-not/) [Susan Jane Gilman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-jane-gilman/) > [It’s a shameful moment for U.S. media when it insists on being subservient to the grotesque propaganda agencies of a violent, aggressive state.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/it-s-a-shameful-moment-for-u-s-media-when-it-insists-on-being/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [“Passive...Aggressive...Pussy.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-azzarello/passive-aggressive-pussy/) [Brian Azzarello](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-azzarello/) > [I'm not a fan of endless mystery in storytelling - I like to know where the mythology's going; I like to get there in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-kripke/i-m-not-a-fan-of-endless-mystery-in-storytelling-i-like-to-know-where/) [Eric Kripke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-kripke/) > [Most conservatives - by which I mean normal people - have little conception of the aggressive and revolutionary force that confronts them. It is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-bethell/most-conservatives-by-which-i-mean-normal-people-have-little/) [Tom Bethell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-bethell/) > [If I serve good and play aggressive from the baseline, I can beat everyone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karolina-pliskova/if-i-serve-good-and-play-aggressive-from-the-baseline-i-can-beat/) [Karolina Pliskova](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karolina-pliskova/) > [I'm just trying to be aggressive. Be aggressive with my shot. Be aggressive going to the rim.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamal-murray/i-m-just-trying-to-be-aggressive-be-aggressive-with-my-shot-be/) [Jamal Murray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamal-murray/) > [I see other teams playing aggressive, attacking football, they are games I switch on and watch. They are the football teams I want to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angelos-postecoglou/i-see-other-teams-playing-aggressive-attacking-football-they-are/) [Angelos Postecoglou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angelos-postecoglou/) > [You cannot will yourself to be happy while believing that you have no right to happiness, or that you are unworthy of it. You…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-roberts/you-cannot-will-yourself-to-be-happy-while-believing-that-you-have-no/) [Jane Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-roberts/) > [I have definitely noticed I am very passionate. So if I'm fighting with someone I'll be SO super loud and aggressive, and make sure…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melanie-martinez/i-have-definitely-noticed-i-am-very-passionate-so-if-i-m-fighting/) [Melanie Martinez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melanie-martinez/) > [ I think the president's \[Barack Obama\] position has been very clear on Syria. He wants more aggressive, he's put the Special Ops on the… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/juan-williams/i-think-the-president-s-barack-obama-position-has-been-very-clear-on/) [Juan Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/juan-williams/) > [As Americans, we want peace - we work and sacrifice for peace. But there can be no peace if our security depends on the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/as-americans-we-want-peace-we-work-and-sacrifice-for-peace-but-there/) [George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/) > [It is deeply concerning to learn that Linda Thomas-Greenfield repeatedly praised autocratic China's aggressive and troubling expansion into Africa during a 2019 speech at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-hagerty/it-is-deeply-concerning-to-learn-that-linda-thomas-greenfield/) [Bill Hagerty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-hagerty/) [Browse all 1,351 Aggressive quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/aggressive/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "In Ukraine, there has never been a consensus behind NATO membership. Even Yulia Tymoshenko was noncommittal when she was still prime minister. Georgia under President Mikhail Saakashvili pursued a rather aggressive stance, which stood in the way of its NATO membership. Given both states' unique relationships with Russia, concerns were justified that NATO membership would trigger Russia's reasonable fears of encirclement.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Heinrich August Winkler" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heinrich-august-winkler/in-ukraine-there-has-never-been-a-consensus-behind-nato-membership/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Aggressive" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heinrich-august-winkler/in-ukraine-there-has-never-been-a-consensus-behind-nato-membership/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/723/heinrich-august-winkler-45367_aggressive_in-ukraine-there-has-never-been-a-consen_2390890.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/723/heinrich-august-winkler-45367_aggressive_in-ukraine-there-has-never-been-a-consen_2390890.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/723/heinrich-august-winkler-45367_aggressive_in-ukraine-there-has-never-been-a-consen_2390890.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“In Ukraine, there has never been a consensus behind NATO membership. Even Yulia Tymoshenko was noncommittal…” — Heinrich August Winkler", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Heinrich August Winkler", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heinrich-august-winkler/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "In Ukraine, there has never been...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heinrich-august-winkler/in-ukraine-there-has-never-been-a-consensus-behind-nato-membership/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heinrich-august-winkler/in-ukraine-there-has-never-been-a-consensus-behind-nato-membership/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```