Washington - As the Russian military continues to devastate cities in Ukraine, causing the loss of civilian lives and the displacement of millions, President Volodymyr Zelensky has acknowledged that Ukraine's entry into NATO is not likely to happen soon.

In his first speech to Congress, President Zelensky called for the formation of new alliances and institutions, emphasizing the need for responsible countries to unite and promptly resolve conflicts.

Even prior to Russia's full-scale invasion, talks among the United States, Russia, and European NATO members revealed that while the Biden administration is committed to preventing Moscow from derailing Ukraine's NATO aspirations, there are no immediate plans to facilitate the country's membership. President Putin's claims that he needed to prevent Ukraine from joining NATO seemed to serve as a pretext for war, lacking a substantial basis.

If Ukraine were to become a NATO member, the alliance would be obligated to defend it against Russia and other adversaries. U.S. officials maintain that they will not appease Putin by undermining NATO's open-door policy, which grants any European nation the right to seek membership.

However, there have been reservations from countries like France and Germany in the past, and other European members are cautious, posing a significant hurdle as NATO membership requires unanimous consent. This knowledge is not lost on American and Russian leaders. In January, as Russian troops amassed on Ukraine's eastern border, former and current officials from Europe and the United States stated that Putin was using the NATO issue as a rhetorical ploy to prepare for an invasion, despite its lack of substance.

President Biden shares the lack of enthusiasm for Ukraine's NATO membership with European leaders for several reasons:

Biden's skepticism regarding expanding U.S. military commitments: While Biden played a pivotal role in NATO's expansion to include Poland, Hungary, and the Czech Republic in the late 1990s, his fervor for enlarging the alliance has waned in the aftermath of two decades of wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Despite statements of support from Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken, Biden has been cautious and downplayed discussions about extending NATO membership to Ukraine.

Biden's emphasis on Ukraine's political and legal system improvement: NATO membership requires a commitment to democracy, individual liberty, and the rule of law. While Ukrainian leaders argue that they meet these criteria, some American and European officials hold a different view.

Transparency International's corruption index ranked Ukraine lower than any NATO member, highlighting the need for significant improvements.

Given these factors, Ukraine's NATO membership remains uncertain in the medium term, with the Biden administration prioritizing other concerns and emphasizing the need for Ukraine to address political and legal challenges before considering accession.