Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha has formally called on NATO to extend an invitation to Ukraine for membership during the alliance’s upcoming meeting in Brussels on December 3-4. According to a letter obtained on Friday, Sybiha emphasized that a clear invitation would serve as a strategic blow to Russian President Vladimir Putin’s war objectives while reinforcing Ukraine’s path toward security and alignment with Western powers.
This appeal comes as part of Ukraine’s broader “victory plan,” unveiled by President Volodymyr Zelensky in October. The plan seeks to secure international backing to end the war that began with Russia’s large-scale invasion in 2022 and aims to ensure Ukraine’s future as a sovereign, democratic state aligned with Western values.
In his letter to NATO counterparts, Sybiha highlighted the critical importance of extending an invitation to Kyiv, even as full membership remains contingent on the conclusion of the war. “The invitation should not be seen as an escalation,” Sybiha wrote. “On the contrary, with a clear understanding that Ukraine’s membership in NATO is inevitable, Russia will lose one of its main arguments for continuing this unjustified war.”
Sybiha argued that a NATO invitation would send an unequivocal message to Moscow that its attempts to block Ukraine’s integration into the alliance have failed. “I urge you to endorse the decision to invite Ukraine to join the Alliance as one of the outcomes of the NATO Foreign Ministerial Meeting on 3-4 December 2024,” he wrote.
This renewed push reflects Kyiv’s urgency to secure strategic guarantees and reaffirm its international standing amid escalating challenges on the battlefield and increasing Russian aggression.
President Zelensky has also weighed in on the matter, proposing a phased solution to Ukraine’s NATO aspirations during an interview with UK-based Sky News. Zelensky suggested that NATO membership could initially apply only to the areas under Ukrainian government control while making it clear that the invitation must encompass all internationally recognized Ukrainian territory.
“No one has offered us to be in NATO for one part or another part of Ukraine,” Zelensky said. “The fact is, it is a solution to stop the hot stage of the war because we can just give NATO membership to the part of Ukraine that is under our control.”
Zelensky emphasized that such a framework would not alter Ukraine’s commitment to reclaiming its occupied territories through diplomatic means. “The invitation must be given to Ukraine within its internationally recognized borders. That’s what we need to do fast and then Ukraine can get back the other part of its territory diplomatically,” he added.
Despite Ukraine’s push, achieving consensus among NATO’s 32 member countries remains a significant hurdle. While NATO has declared Ukraine’s eventual membership as an “irreversible” goal, the alliance has yet to issue a formal invitation or set a timeline for accession.
NATO diplomats have expressed skepticism over the feasibility of such a move at this stage, particularly as the alliance awaits clarity on U.S. policy under President-elect Donald Trump, whose administration is expected to recalibrate America’s approach to NATO and Ukraine.
“We understand that the consensus for an invitation to join NATO is not yet there,” said Olga Stefanishyna, Ukraine’s deputy prime minister in charge of NATO affairs. “But the letter was meant to send a strong political signal.”
Stefanishyna reiterated Ukraine’s intention to keep the prospect of NATO membership alive despite what she described as “manipulations and speculations” around the topic.
Ukraine’s call for a NATO invitation comes amid heightened tensions on the battlefield and new allegations of Russian escalation. In his letter, Sybiha accused Moscow of enlisting tens of thousands of North Korean troops and using Ukrainian territory as a testing ground for advanced weapons.
Sybiha’s remarks reflect growing concerns in Kyiv about Russia’s deepening military partnerships and its use of unconventional tactics to sustain its war effort. Analysts note that the involvement of foreign fighters and experimental weaponry underscores Russia’s determination to maintain its campaign against Ukraine despite mounting international pressure.
Extending a NATO invitation to Ukraine would have profound geopolitical implications, signaling a decisive shift in the post-Cold War security architecture. For Putin, blocking Ukraine’s NATO membership has been a cornerstone of his justification for the invasion. A formal invitation to Kyiv would effectively nullify one of Moscow’s key strategic goals and complicate its broader efforts to reassert influence in Eastern Europe.
However, NATO countries remain cautious about provoking a further escalation in the conflict. Some member states fear that extending an invitation at this stage could increase the risk of direct confrontation between NATO and Russia, a scenario both sides have sought to avoid.
Still, proponents argue that clarity on Ukraine’s NATO trajectory would deter Russian aggression and provide Kyiv with a stronger bargaining position in any future peace talks.
Ukraine’s push for NATO membership is part of a larger vision for its post-war reconstruction and integration into Western political, economic, and security structures. Over the past decade, Kyiv has undertaken significant reforms to align its military and political institutions with NATO standards.
In July 2024, NATO acknowledged Ukraine’s progress during its summit in Vilnius, where alliance leaders affirmed that Ukraine is on a clear path to eventual membership. However, concrete steps have remained elusive, with the war serving as the primary obstacle.
As NATO foreign ministers prepare to meet in Brussels, the question of Ukraine’s membership remains a divisive issue within the alliance. While Kyiv’s leadership continues to push for a definitive signal, many NATO countries appear reluctant to commit to such a move without clear U.S. leadership and a broader consensus among member states.
The coming weeks will be critical in determining whether Ukraine’s latest appeal can shift the narrative within NATO and bring the country closer to achieving its long-sought goal of joining the alliance. For now, Kyiv remains steadfast in its belief that NATO membership is not only a necessity for Ukraine’s security but also a decisive step toward a lasting resolution of the ongoing conflict.
