The temperature may be fine in Oslo these days, reaching 20 degrees Celsius, but at the NATO summit in the Norwegian capital, Kiev’s dreams of something “tangible” in terms of joining the alliance seem to be “frozen” by the West.

Most Alliance leaders agree to an “enhanced relationship” but are unwilling to risk provoking a nuclear power like Russia.

The approach of German Foreign Minister Analena Burbock caused a sensation, who stated from Oslo that yes, obviously “the policy of open doors” applies in NATO, but at the same time, as she said, “we are in the middle of war and therefore I cannot talk about a new member (Ukraine) joining NATO”.

In fact, according to exclusive information from the German News Agency, in the closed-door consultations in Oslo, countries such as the United States of America and Germany declared before the Summit that they do not intend to make any specific commitments for Ukraine’s accession to NATO for the time being, on on the basis of a “vague declaration” of 2008, when then the heads of state and government of NATO were in favor of a future NATO membership of Ukraine and Georgia but without a specific timetable.

Many NATO members believe – and rightly so – that a possible accession of Ukraine to the Alliance, carries very serious risksand even the outbreak of World War III. Moscow has made its position clear, setting Ukraine’s accession to NATO as a red line. It was one of the reasons cited, along with the attacks by Ukrainian extremists on Russian citizens in the Donbass, in order to justify the invasion of Ukrainian territory. A possible accession of Ukraine to NATO involves uncontrollable risks for the whole world, a fact noted by a competent part of the members of the Alliance and taken into serious consideration by the leadership.

Jens Stoltenberg’s statement was indicative. “Ukraine’s rightful place is in NATO. And “over time”, our support will help you make it possible,” NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said during his visit to Kyiv in April 2023, addressing Ukrainian President Zelensky.

“Everyone agrees that membership is not for now, but everyone also agrees that Ukraine needs an upgraded relationship with NATO,” Bruno Lette, a defense expert at the German Marshall Fund, told DW.

“…we should put the framework in place to offer Ukraine security guarantees after the end of the war,” the NATO secretary general said in Oslo.

“All allies agree that Moscow does not have a veto on NATO enlargement,” Stoltenberg told reporters.

For this matter, French President Emmanuel Macron yesterday asked for “clear and reliable security guarantees”.

The position of the US will be of paramount importance. Washington is currently rejecting NATO’s offer of such guarantees, an unnamed foreign minister told AFP.

Ukraine’s accession to NATO cannot be included, not even on the agenda of the NATO summit that will take place in July in Vilnius, Lithuania, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Hungary said today in a post on his Facebook page.

“We are clear on this issue: joining NATO of a country that is currently at war cannot be on the agenda,” Peter Szijardo said, adding that not even a timetable for Ukraine should be discussed.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, however, speaking at the second session of the European Political Community, in which almost 50 European leaders are participating, pointed out that Kiev wants to make a “clear” decision about its future.

AMPE – Deutsche Welle –