NATO's Response to Ukraine's Bid for Membership Amidst War with Russia

British Foreign Secretary James Cleverly stated that now is not the time for a concrete conversation on Ukraine’s NATO bid, as allies debate how to address Kyiv’s aspirations to join the military alliance. Ukrainian officials have reiterated their calls in recent days for the country to move closer to NATO, eliciting mixed reactions from alliance leaders. NATO allies are currently split on how to tackle Ukraine’s NATO dreams. Capitals such as London and Washington want a strong focus on immediate, practical assistance to Kyiv and to leave bigger political questions for later.