NATO is anticipated to bypass Ukraine’s request for a swift membership invitation during its upcoming foreign ministers’ meeting on Tuesday, disappointing Kyiv as it continues to face challenges on the battlefield and awaits potential shifts in US political leadership.
In a letter to his NATO counterparts, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha argued that extending an invitation would neutralize one of Russia’s primary justifications for its war: preventing Ukraine’s accession to the alliance.
However, diplomats suggest there is no consensus among NATO’s 32 member states to support such a move at this time. “It will take weeks and months to get consensus,” said a senior NATO diplomat, adding that an invitation on Tuesday would be highly unlikely.
The meeting in Brussels is expected to focus on increasing support for Ukraine, ensuring the country is in a strong position ahead of potential negotiations in the coming year. A senior US official emphasized that bolstering military aid, resources, and readiness is the best approach to support Ukraine’s position.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken announced a new $725 million weapons package for Ukraine on Monday. Recent discussions between US National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan and his successor, Mike Waltz, included Ukraine, but the alignment between the outgoing and incoming US administrations remains uncertain.
Former President Donald Trump has criticized the scale of US aid to Ukraine and claimed he would end the war swiftly, though he has not provided specifics on how he would achieve this.
Some NATO members, such as Hungary, have openly voiced opposition to Ukraine joining the alliance. But some others have also signalled they do not think the time is right, such as the current US and German governments, according to diplomats.
