Brussels: At a media briefing on Tuesday, Mark Rutte, Secretary-General of NATO, reiterated that there is currently no unanimous agreement among the alliance’s 32 member states to grant membership to Ukraine. The required consensus remains elusive, leaving Kyiv’s aspiration to join the bloc in limbo.
Rutte emphasized that NATO’s foundational rules demand the consent of all members before admitting a new country. “Right now … there is no consensus on Ukraine joining NATO,” he told reporters.
This announcement comes despite earlier declarations including at the 2024 Washington summit that Ukraine’s path into NATO is “irreversible.” But the realities of geopolitical divisions and war-related uncertainties have apparently slowed momentum within the alliance.
According to past statements by Rutte himself, while full membership may remain off the table for the time being, NATO has discussed providing Ukraine with “Article 5–type security guarantees.” This would imply collective-defense commitments without formal accession a compromise designed to bolster Kyiv’s security without immediately triggering collective war obligations.
Under this framework, NATO allies hope to strengthen Ukraine’s defenses, increase weapons and logistical support, and prepare the country for a future where membership might become feasible. Still, Rutte was careful to stress that such guarantees do not equate to a membership decision.
For Ukraine, the absence of a green light from NATO is a setback: many in Kyiv had pinned hopes on membership as a long-term security guarantee, especially in light of ongoing aggression from Russia. The uncertainty complicates Kyiv’s strategic planning and undermines pledges of future protection.
For NATO, Rutte’s guarded stance reflects sensitive political calculations: admitting a war-torn Ukraine could obligate the alliance to direct confrontation with Russia, something many members remain reluctant to endorse. In the meantime, the alliance appears to prefer a provisional security framework that supports Ukraine without triggering Article 5 commitments.
Rutte’s remarks make it clear that Ukraine’s accession will remain under review and perhaps deferred until a credible, unanimous consensus emerges among member states. In the meantime, NATO seems likely to deepen its security support, both military and logistical, while avoiding full membership commitments.
Whether this cautious, interim approach will satisfy Kyiv remains uncertain much will depend on the evolving war dynamics, internal debates within NATO, and the will of individual member states. For now, Ukraine's NATO dream rests on a fragile foundation.