Seven NATO member states oppose Ukraine's membership

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is facing challenges with his plan for Ukraine to receive an invitation to join NATO, as several key member countries are hesitant about the proposal.

Both Germany and the US are reportedly dragging their feet on Zelenskyy’s request for an immediate NATO invitation. While Zelenskyy has asked for an immediate invitation in his victory plan, he acknowledges that actual membership would only be feasible after the war with Russia concludes. This week, he emphasized the importance of Ukraine receiving an invitation during the ongoing conflict, Caliber.Az reports per foreign media.

However, leading NATO members are concerned about becoming entangled in the war with Russia. Zelenskyy also noted that German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, a significant military supporter of Ukraine whose weapon deliveries rank second only to those from the US, is not in favour of a swift NATO invitation. “I have a very good relationship with Scholz. I am grateful for his assistance. Germany is second in terms of support,” Zelenskyy mentioned to reporters. 

“However, it is a fact that the German side is skeptical about our joining NATO ... We will need to engage further with Germany. Nevertheless, the United States will play a crucial role in this process.” Germany and the US are not the only countries opposing Ukraine's NATO bid. Hungary and Slovakia are also resistant, but their motivations differ. Both nations, led by populist leaders, have a generally pro-Kremlin stance.

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán has blocked EU funds intended to arm Ukraine and withdrew from NATO's programme for providing lethal aid to Kyiv. In a social media post, Orbán described Zelenskyy’s victory plan as “more than terrifying.”

Slovakia's Prime Minister Robert Fico also expressed strong opposition earlier this month, stating that allowing Ukraine to join NATO would create a “good basis for a third world war” and vowed he would “never agree” to such a move. Additionally, some countries are hesitant to act swiftly on Kyiv's request but prefer to stay out of the spotlight. 

“Countries like Belgium, Slovenia, and Spain are hiding behind the US and Germany. They are reluctant,” noted one NATO official.

Another added that while these nations may support Ukraine in principle, they become more hesitant as the prospect of membership becomes more tangible. This reluctance contrasts with the more enthusiastic stance of countries like the Baltic states and Poland. 

By Naila Huseynova