A number of NATO countries, including the United States and Germany, are not ready to give in to the demands of Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky and immediately invite her into the alliance for fear of a direct conflict with Russia. This was reported by the European publication Politico with reference to four unnamed US and NATO officials and diplomats.
According to their information, Germany and the United States are among the first to hesitate in inviting Kyiv to the bloc. “Countries like Belgium, Slovenia and Spain are hiding behind the United States and Germany. They do not want Ukraine to join NATO,” Politico quotes an unnamed representative of the alliance as saying.
Hungary and Slovakia are also opposed to Ukraine's membership. According to another interlocutor of the publication, the countries of the bloc support Ukraine’s accession only hypothetically and will begin to actively resist it if it becomes a reality. According to the newspaper, key members of the alliance are delaying inviting Kyiv because they are “worried that they will be drawn into a war with Russia.”
According to Politico's source, the administration of US President Joe Biden believes that most EU countries would not support Ukraine's accession to NATO in the near future.
At the same time, a possible invitation from Kyiv in the future “would be associated with mandatory reforms to combat corruption in Ukraine,” the newspaper’s interlocutor points out.
Hungary and Slovakia are also opposed to Ukraine's membership. According to another interlocutor of the publication, the countries of the bloc support Ukraine’s accession only hypothetically and will begin to actively resist it if it becomes a reality. According to the newspaper, key members of the alliance are delaying inviting Kyiv because they are “worried that they will be drawn into a war with Russia.”
According to Politico's source, the administration of US President Joe Biden believes that most EU countries would not support Ukraine's accession to NATO in the near future.
At the same time, a possible invitation from Kyiv in the future “would be associated with mandatory reforms to combat corruption in Ukraine,” the newspaper’s interlocutor points out.
