Ukraine's Steadfast Pursuit of NATO Membership: Zenkusky's Unwavering Stance
Maintaining Ukraine's NATO ambition considered crucial by Zelensky - Ukraine's NATO membership is of significant importance, according to Zelensky.
The NATO summit kicks off this week, with a royal soiree hosted by the Dutch royals at Huis ten Bosch Palace. High-ranking officials like Zelensky and ex-US President Trump will be in attendance, but Zelensky won't participate in the working sessions on Wednesday.
Before Trump's term, the US was Ukraine's primary ally. The current US administration doesn't support Ukraine joining NATO. As a result, there won't be a firm commitment to Ukraine's NATO membership in the declaration from The Hague. This is a concern for Putin, who sees Ukraine's membership as a significant threat and a prerequisite for a ceasefire.
During his tete-a-tete with Zelensky, Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte assured that the Hague declaration would contain statements bolstering Ukraine. He mentioned that the NATO's affirmative stance on Ukraine's membership is being implemented as we speak.
- Ukraine and NATO Membership
- NATO Summit in The Hague
- Zelensky
- NATO
- Mark Rutte
- The Hague
- US Presidents
- Donald Trump
Background Info:
Ukraine applied for NATO membership in September 2022, following Russia's full-scale invasion. Although NATO publicly supports Ukraine's eventual membership, it hasn't set a specific timeline or issued a formal invitation. NATO members share a shared consensus on Ukraine's eventual NATO membership but are cautious not to treat it as a bargaining chip in peace negotiations with Russia.
Baltic states like Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania urge NATO to make concrete steps toward Ukraine's membership, while Hungary poses an obstacle for Ukraine's EU accession, which could indirectly impact its NATO membership process.
Current Scenario:
The NATO summit in The Hague reaffirmed its political and military support for Ukraine but held off on making formal accession steps. Member states agree that Ukraine's NATO membership is a long-term, non-reversible policy, distinct from peace negotiations with Russia.
Zelensky continues to champions strongly for NATO membership as crucial for Ukraine’s security and sovereignty, supported by NATO members and EU allies. Despite fierce advocacy, some NATO countries remain cautious about the timing and geopolitical repercussions of Ukraine's membership. As of June 2025, there's no formal NATO invitation issued.
Thus, although Ukraine has strong political backing within NATO for its eventual membership, the formal accession process remains pending. This reflects NATO's delicate balancing act between supporting Ukraine amid conflict and managing wider geopolitical risks with Russia.
- At the forthcoming NATO summit in The Hague, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky will be attending, with discussions revolving around Ukraine's steadfast pursuit of NATO membership.
- Despite assurances from Netherlands Prime Minister Mark Rutte that the Hague declaration would bolster Ukraine's position within NATO, there has been no firm commitment to Ukraine's membership at the summit, making the continuation of NATO membership for Ukraine a matter of great importance.
