Stoltenberg did manage to find a silver lining for Ukraine — saying that NATO could move much faster than the European Union, another grouping Kyiv is keen to join.
“In the European Union, of course, when you’re invited, it can take years from an invitation to membership,” said Stoltenberg. “While in NATO, when you’re invited, it’s something that happens soon after.”
Estonia’s Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna — whose country is among the biggest advocates for Ukraine — conceded that Kyiv’s membership won’t be a top priority at the July summit, given the tough fighting on the ground.
“We are creating a bridge, and finally Ukraine will become a member of NATO,” Tsahkna told POLITICO. “But now we have to focus [on] the existing situation.”
For the more sympathetic NATO allies, such as Poland, the U.K. and France, that “bridge” is to focus on furthering the military interoperability between Ukraine and NATO — a key indicator of Kyiv’s fitness to join in future.
France has floated the idea of sending military personnel to Ukraine for training purposes, while NATO ministers also agreed to let the organization plan a bigger role in coordinating the training of Ukrainian troops.