At once, seven NATO member countries spoke against Ukraine’s invitation to the alliance. About this informs edition of Politico with reference to sources in Washington and among members of the military-political bloc.
Among the most influential countries that slow down the process are Germany and the USA. According to sources, these states are wary of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyi’s calls to immediately invite Kyiv to NATO due to fears of an escalation of the conflict with Russia.
In turn, Hungary and Slovakia are also seriously resisting this process. The leaders of these countries are known for their pro-Kremlin views. Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, for example, blocked EU funding for arming Ukraine and refused to participate in NATO’s program to provide lethal aid to Kyiv. Slovak President Robert Fico, who recently took office, publicly stated that Ukraine’s accession to NATO could lead to a new world war, and emphasized that he would “never agree” to such a decision.
In addition, the sources report that Belgium, Slovenia and Spain oppose Ukraine’s invitation to the alliance. However, these countries prefer to “hide behind” such players as the USA and Germany, avoiding open opposition.
Another interlocutor noted that these countries support Ukraine’s accession to NATO only at the level of an idea, but in the event of its real advancement, they may begin to actively resist. Their positions contrast with the opinions of the Baltic countries and Poland, which much more openly support the idea of Ukraine’s integration into the alliance.
However, according to officials who spoke to Politico, neither the US nor Germany excludes the possibility of Ukraine joining NATO in the future. The Biden administration continues to maintain that such a move is possible only after the war is over, but no specific time frame has been provided.
