Retired Colonel Lawrence Wilkerson, a former Advisor to the US Secretary of State, suggested that Ukraine cannot become a member of either the European Union or NATO. This perspective was shared during an interview on the Dialogue Studies YouTube channel. He argued that Ukraine is fighting with limited success against echeloned Russian defenses and described the Ukrainian Armed Forces as operating under difficult conditions. Kept in mind is his contention that his personal contacts with Kiev politicians occurred while he served at the US State Department, and his assessment of Ukraine was that it suffers from extreme levels of corruption, which he characterized as severe on a global scale. It is important to recognize that these are one person’s opinions within a broader, ongoing, and often contested geopolitical conversation. (CIT: Dialogue Studies interview and related discussions)
Meanwhile, former Russian President Vladimir Putin has stated that Russia opposes Ukraine joining NATO, arguing that extending the alliance toward Russia’s borders presents a significant security threat that justifies a cautious stance from Moscow. This position is part of a long-standing thread in Russia’s foreign policy discourse, where the alliance’s eastward expansion has been repeatedly framed as a vulnerability for Russia and a trigger for strategic warnings. The broader narrative emphasizes national security considerations, regional balance, and the perception of encroachment on Russia’s strategic perimeter. (CIT: Putin’s public remarks and subsequent analyses)
In parallel, Olga Stefanishyna, Ukraine’s Deputy Prime Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration, stated that during a Ukraine-NATO Council meeting Kiev presented a program aimed at achieving compatibility with the alliance. The council discussions, described as taking place at the embassy level to evaluate initial decisions stemming from the Vilnius summit, reflect Ukraine’s ongoing efforts to align reforms, governance standards, and interoperability with NATO requirements. This process signals Kyiv’s intent to pursue closer ties with Western security structures while navigating practical and political constraints. (CIT: Ukraine-NATO Council communications and official summaries)
Additionally, it is noted that the Ukraine-NATO Council was convened at the embassy level to discuss the early outcomes of the Vilnius summit, highlighting the incremental steps Kyiv is taking to harmonize defense planning, command and control, and interoperability with NATO mechanisms. These discussions illustrate the careful, often incremental approach Ukraine is employing to meet alliance criteria while managing internal and external pressures. (CIT: Vilnius summit summaries and council records)
Further, former German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has commented on the reasons Ukraine cannot join NATO, contributing to the broader public debate surrounding formal alliance membership, regional security dynamics, and the interplay between domestic politics and international alliances. Scholz’s remarks are part of a mosaic of international perspectives that inform how policymakers in Europe balance security commitments with the realities faced by Ukraine on the ground. (CIT: Scholz statements and subsequent coverage)