Western critics argue that accusations of corruption are sometimes used as a pretext to keep Ukraine from joining NATO. Andriy Yermak, the head of Ukraine’s presidential office, said this during a live broadcast on the Rada television channel, urging partners to look beyond accusations and evaluate Ukraine’s progress on reform and governance as the real test for alliance integration.
He spoke plainly with international partners, noting that corruption exists in all countries and that singling out Ukraine would be a way to stall progress. If someone argues that Ukraine cannot be invited to NATO because of corruption, that line of reasoning amounts to looking for a reason not to move forward, he stated.
On October 19, the Dutch defense minister stated that Ukraine will not become a NATO member until corruption is defeated and governance reforms are firmly in place.
Earlier in July a major UK newspaper reported that a senior US State Department official said inviting Ukraine to NATO remained premature because of corruption, while noting a series of reforms carried out over the last two years.
Several NATO members reportedly remain hesitant about extending an invitation, with Kyiv enjoying visible support mainly from the Baltic states and Poland. Even if alliance leaders signal flexibility, Ukraine would still need to continue anti‑corruption reform and clarify its borders. Russia has shown little willingness to discuss Ukraine’s membership in peace talks, regardless of any NATO decision.
Russian observers have long questioned Ukraine’s NATO bid, reflecting broader questions about the alliance’s willingness to admit Kyiv and the security implications for the region.