Western Leaders Push for Continued Support to Ukraine, But Delay NATO Membership Amid Ongoing Conflict

As Ukraine continues its battle against Russia’s nearly 3-year invasion, Western leaders are emphasizing the importance of sustained military aid but are hesitating to grant Ukraine immediate membership in NATO. The reluctance stems from concerns that such a move could escalate the conflict into a broader war with Russia.
In a meeting with NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte in Brussels, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken discussed potential steps to support Ukraine’s defense, which the U.S. State Department described as “concrete actions.” Although all 32 NATO member countries have affirmed that Ukraine is on an irreversible path to membership, Rutte stressed that the immediate priority is to provide additional arms to Ukraine, as Russia continues to make territorial gains in the eastern part of the country.
Rutte emphasized that the Ukrainian front is gradually shifting in Russia’s favor, with the frontlines not moving eastward but slowly pushing westward. He added that ensuring Ukraine’s strength on the battlefield should take precedence, leaving the decision for peace talks and NATO membership to the Ukrainian government at a later stage.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy echoed these sentiments, highlighting the urgent need for reinforced arms supplies, particularly in the Donetsk region, where Russian forces continue their advances. Zelenskyy stressed that enhancing the military’s firepower and technological capabilities would significantly bolster Ukraine’s defense and help protect its soldiers.
Further complicating the situation, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer acknowledged that while Ukraine’s allies must “do whatever it takes” to support Ukraine’s self-defense, the war will ultimately end through negotiations and compromises. Starmer emphasized the importance of ensuring that Ukraine is in the strongest possible position for these discussions, guaranteeing the country’s security, independence, and its right to determine its future.
While Zelenskyy maintains that NATO membership would fundamentally strengthen Ukraine before any negotiations, Western powers are hesitant to trigger Article 5 of the NATO pact, which considers an attack on one member as an attack on all. This has only been invoked once in NATO’s history—after the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks in the United States.
Despite this, Ukraine’s Foreign Ministry reiterated that the country will not accept alternatives to full NATO membership, citing the Budapest Memorandum of 1994. Under that agreement, Ukraine gave up its nuclear arsenal in exchange for security guarantees from Russia, the United States, and the United Kingdom. Ukraine has since criticized the failure of these powers to uphold their promises in the face of Russia’s aggression.
As the conflict continues, Western allies are balancing the need to support Ukraine’s defense with the caution of not provoking a wider war.