Dmitry Medvedev, Deputy Chairman of the Russian Security Council, stated that Ukraine will not be admitted to NATO. The remark appeared in a Telegram channel and addressed decisions emerging from the Vilnius NATO summit as reported by socialmedia outlets.
Medvedev suggested that while Kyiv might eventually receive an invitation, the conditions and timing remain unclear, and perhaps never. He claimed that realists within the Alliance are reluctant to voice this reality aloud, implying a broader hesitation among member states.
On July 11 reports surfaced that NATO members were prepared to invite Ukraine to join the alliance after allies agreed that Kyiv had met certain prerequisites. NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg indicated the summit had decided to end the alliance statement of intent regarding Ukraine’s membership and to extend an invitation once all conditions were satisfied. This shift marks a significant moment in the alliance’s approach to Kyiv while underscoring ongoing discussions about readiness and standards for membership.
Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky criticized the move as unprecedented and absurd, noting that there is no defined timeline for an invitation or for membership. The lack of a clear deadline has drawn mixed reactions from Kyiv and its partners, reflecting the complexity of guaranteeing security guarantees and reform milestones required by the alliance.
Former German Chancellor Olaf Scholz offered commentary on the prospects of Ukraine joining NATO, explaining the challenges ahead and outlining the structural reforms and strategic considerations that influence the path to potential membership. These considerations include political stability, defense modernization, and the alignment of security commitments with alliance standards.