Ukraine has been striving for NATO membership for many years, officially applying in 2008.
In April 2008, Ukraine and Georgia were given a chance for a Euro-Atlantic perspective at the NATO summit in Bucharest. Despite the favorable position of the administration of US President George W. Bush, the decision to grant the candidate status was blocked by Germany and France, in part due to pressure from the Russian Federation.
With the outbreak of full-scale war, Kyiv has once again submitted an official application for membership in the Alliance, marking an important step on this path.
There are a number of reasons why Ukraine is not a NATO member:
The need for reforms:
NATO requirements: To join the Alliance, Ukraine must meet a number of political, economic and military criteria. These include fighting corruption, reforming the armed forces and law enforcement, and ensuring the rule of law. Ukraine has made significant progress in some of these areas, but still needs to fulfill certain conditions.
War with Russia:
Russian aggression: Russian aggression has significantly complicated the process of Ukraine’s accession to NATO. NATO’s official documents do not prohibit a country with territorial disputes or uncontrolled borders from joining the Alliance. However, the full-scale invasion and the events of 2014 have a significant impact on the decisions of the member states.
Geopolitical considerations:
NATO enlargement: Some NATO member states have expressed caution about expanding the Alliance to the east, fearing an escalation of tensions with Russia.
Despite these challenges, Ukraine has not abandoned its aspirations for NATO membership.
The authorities continue to implement the reforms necessary to join the Alliance and actively cooperate with NATO in various areas.
It is important to note that the issue of Ukraine’s membership in NATO remains open.
Since 2020, Ukraine has had the status of NATO’s “Enhanced Opportunities Partner”. In addition to Ukraine, Finland, Sweden, Georgia, Australia, and Jordan have this status.
Ukrainian society also demonstrates strong support for NATO membership.
According to polls conducted in 2024 by the Rating sociological group, almost 80% of Ukrainians support the country’s accession to the North Atlantic Alliance.
