French President Emmanuel Macron and NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg were seen in Paris this Wednesday, signaling support for Ukraine’s potential path toward joining the Atlantic Alliance. In a shared view, the centrist leader and the alliance chief outlined a route that could bring Kiev closer to NATO’s framework. Upon arriving at the Élysée Palace for an afternoon discussion, Stoltenberg stated plainly that Ukraine has a place within the alliance and that steps would be taken to reinforce that trajectory.
The two leaders met just ahead of the New Year’s celebrations, with the Vilnius summit on the horizon. In the Lithuanian capital, discussions are expected to focus on how member states might signal a course toward Ukraine’s possible accession, and what that could mean for the broader dynamics of the conflict. Earlier reports indicated that while a formal invitation to Kiev was unlikely at the upcoming summit, gestures aimed at strengthening the possibility could still be considered. Poland and the Baltic states have urged for movement, whereas Germany and the United States have adopted a more cautious stance.
change of position of France
In recent weeks, France has shifted closer to positions held by Eastern European partners. After speaking with Russian President Vladimir Putin last year about security guarantees—though with limited outcomes—President Macron has increasingly supported Ukraine’s potential membership in NATO. Moscow has repeatedly described such a move as a red line. At the start of June, reports noted that the French president presided over a security council at the Élysée where the new stance was articulated. The question remains whether this marks a genuine pivot in French policy or a strategic tactic designed to apply pressure on Russia.
While the Ukrainian Armed Forces have achieved some gains, progress on counteroffensives has been uneven. The weekend disturbance involving Yevgeny Prigozhin and his Wagner mercenaries exposed vulnerabilities within Moscow’s side of the coalition and highlighted the divisions shaping the conflict. These events may prompt NATO members who favor stronger diplomatic pressure on Russia to consider steps that advance Ukraine’s NATO prospects, even as they acknowledge the risk of escalation and the challenge to future peace talks. The situation is often framed as a domestic turbulence reacting to the broader war, yet it carries strategic significance for alliance planning and messaging toward Kyiv.
Beyond the war against Ukraine, Vilnius is expected to address broader regional security concerns. Sweden’s potential entry into the Atlantic Alliance remains a central topic, though membership is currently stalled by Turkish and Hungarian reservations. Macron reiterated a pathway that could strengthen the alliance and noted that Finland’s earlier accession sent a clear signal. The objective cited is to move forward with a comprehensive approach that extends NATO’s reach and unity across the region.