Talk of NATO Membership for Ukraine is a Dangerous Distraction
The debate over Ukrainian membership in the alliance sustains one of Russia’s stated motivations for launching its war, undermines the cohesion of the alliance, and pulls attention away from other, high-priority issues.
It’s time for NATO leaders to stop misleading Ukraine’s government and the American public about Ukraine’s prospects for membership in the alliance, and to get serious about ending the conflict as a first step toward NATO’s goal of “increased stability and security for all in the Euro-Atlantic area.” Whatever security guarantees are discussed as part of any eventual negotiation, they will not—and should not—come from NATO.
Christopher Preble is a Senior Fellow and Director of the Reimagining US Grand Strategy Program at the Stimson Center.
James Siebens is a Fellow of the Reimagining US Grand Strategy Program at the Stimson Center.
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