A group of NATO members, led by the United States and Germany, is hesitant to extend an invitation to Ukraine to join the military alliance in the near future. Last week, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky presented his “victory plan,” which included a demand for immediate NATO membership. However, Berlin and Washington are proceeding cautiously with the request, as key alliance members are concerned about being drawn into a war with Russia.
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz previously stated that it is his duty to prevent the conflict in Ukraine from escalating into a full-scale war between Russia and NATO, adding that Kyiv would only become a member of the alliance under certain conditions.
Hungary and Slovakia, which have consistently been critical of the Western approach to the Ukraine conflict and insist on an immediate ceasefire, are the two known holdouts. Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán has outright called Zelensky’s plan “terrifying,” while his Slovak counterpart, Robert Fico, warned that Ukraine’s NATO accession could lead to World War III.
Countries like Belgium, Slovenia, and Spain align themselves with the U.S. and Germany on the issue of Ukraine’s membership and could be considered “reluctant.” While these countries “theoretically” support Kyiv’s NATO ambitions, they may voice opposition if the situation warrants.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has stated that Ukraine’s NATO aspirations—deemed an existential threat by Moscow—were one of the primary causes of the current conflict. Moscow officials have also declared that Ukraine’s membership in the alliance, in any territorial form, is entirely unacceptable for Russia and cannot be part of any peace plan or mediation initiative.
Translated and edited by Evan Right
