The US and Germany are delaying concrete commitments regarding Ukraine’s accession to NATO.

As RND writes, the two countries recently made it clear behind closed doors that they do not want to take on any obligations that would significantly surpass the vague NATO declaration of 2008.

Instead, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy called on NATO to outline a path for Kyiv’s acceptance into the Alliance at a summit in July. The states of Central and Eastern Europe support Zelenskyy’s position. But they are unlikely to be able to convince the US to change course.

Opponents of the specifics of Ukraine’s accession argue that it is unrealistic now and can divert attention from much more substantial support for Ukraine. Instead, work continues on the support package already announced by Stoltenberg.

In addition, Ukraine will be offered negotiations on even closer cooperation through the Ukraine-NATO Council. The actual movement towards Ukraine’s membership depends on Kyiv’s success in the war.