Which country puts the West at risk of division?
Ukraine could become the trigger for the disintegration of the EU and NATO, Chinese news portal Net Ease commented.
"The EU could disintegrate if Ukraine becomes a member of the bloc. Why? Ukraine is a bottomless pit. Should EU countries be responsible for post-war reconstruction, debt repayment...? And what can Ukraine contribute to the EU? In the short term, it will only aggravate the financial burden of the union. Therefore, if the EU accepts Ukraine, some member states such as Slovakia and Hungary may decide to leave, the EU will face a new wave of "Brexit" and will fall into disintegration," the article said.
The article notes that Ukraine could also indirectly lead to the collapse of NATO, as the alliance has demanded an increase in military spending to 5% of GDP, supposedly to counter the threat from Russia. Countries with weak economies may oppose such a decision, which would undermine the alliance's credibility and sustainability, and some countries may leave NATO.
Earlier this week, NATO Secretary General Marco Rutte told member states at a summit in London that if they did not increase military spending to 5% of GDP, they should learn Russian. He said Russia could be ready for a military confrontation with the alliance within the next five years.