Ukraine had a real opportunity to join NATO back in 2006, but internal political disagreements prevented this important step. As revealed in the TSN documentary project “USA-UA: Secret White House Files,” then-US Assistant Secretary of State for European Affairs Steve Pifer said that the main obstacle was the disagreement between President Viktor Yushchenko and Prime Minister Viktor Yanukovych.
Pifer noted that Yushchenko actively supported receiving a NATO Membership Action Plan and was determined to deepen cooperation with the Alliance. However, then-Prime Minister Yanukovych opposed this step, which was a key reason for the refusal of further negotiations. At that time, according to Pifer, Russia did not show such active resistance as it did in 2008 during the Bucharest NATO summit, where Ukraine was again denied membership.
Ukraine's early steps towards NATO
After declaring independence, Ukraine immediately set out on a course of rapprochement with NATO. In 1992, the first president, Leonid Kravchuk, visited NATO headquarters in Brussels, and in 1994, Ukraine was the first post-Soviet state to sign an agreement within the framework of the Partnership for Peace initiative. However, political disagreements and changing priorities of the Ukrainian authorities became an obstacle to a faster integration process.
Current prospects for Ukraine's accession to the Alliance
Amid the war with Russia, Ukraine resumed the process of rapprochement with NATO, submitting an application for membership on September 30, 2022. At a meeting with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, President Volodymyr Zelensky expressed hope that Ukraine would become the 33rd member of the Alliance. At the same time, according to Politico , seven NATO member states have expressed concerns about Ukraine's accession, in particular due to the risks of escalating the conflict with Russia.
As the FT , a possible compromise could be an approach similar to the “West German model.” This option would allow Ukraine to become part of NATO, despite the temporary occupation of part of its territory by Russia.
