Zelenskyy administration denies Politico's claim of NATO opposition to Ukraine membership

Presidential spokesman Serhiy Nykyforov made the statement, RBC-Ukraine reports.

According to him, the idea of inviting Ukraine to NATO is supported by the vast majority of member states, and active advocacy work is underway for the rest.

“An invitation is the first point of the Ukrainian president's victory plan and a reliable path to a just and lasting peace. Volodymyr Zelenskyy presented the plan to international partners, the Ukrainian parliament, the community, media representatives, and civil society, consolidating their efforts to bring Ukraine's NATO invitation closer,” Nykyforov said.

Politico’s report on several NATO countries slow-walking Ukraine’s bid for a NATO invitation

Politico, citing its own sources, reported that Germany and the United States are among the major powers that are in no hurry to support President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's call for Ukraine to immediately invite Ukraine to join NATO.

Sources suggest that they are concerned about being drawn into the war with Russia.

However, Germany and the United States are not the only countries blocking accession. Hungary and Slovakia are also resisting, but they are coming from a different starting point. Their current leaders are generally regarded as pro-Kremlin.

There are other countries that do not want to act quickly at Kyiv's request, but are content to hide in the shadows: “Countries like Belgium, Slovenia or Spain are hiding behind the U.S. and Germany. They are reluctant.”

One official said that countries “support it in the abstract but once it gets closer to materializing,” they will start to balk at the idea more publicly.

However, the officials who spoke with the outlet were keen to emphasize that neither the United States nor Germany has ruled out Ukraine's possible accession to the Alliance.

• U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine Bridget Brink assured that the United States supports Ukraine, in particular its defense and energy sectors.
• The head of the U.S. mission to NATO, Julianne Smith, said that NATO is not ready to offer Ukraine membership in the coalition. Instead, the United States continues to work on bringing Ukrainians closer to NATO.