Among the leading politicians from the largest NATO countries, a discussion is currently ongoing regarding whether the Alliance should soon invite Ukraine to join the organization, as reported in a publication. According to French, American, and Ukrainian sources, Paris and London are increasingly leaning towards such a move. In the U.S., sources also indicate a "cautious openness" to discussions on this topic. Meanwhile, Berlin still has a negative stance towards inviting Ukraine, the publication notes.
During a meeting in Germany on October 18, the leaders of the U.S., France, Germany, and the U.K.—Joe Biden, Emmanuel Macron, Olaf Scholz, and Keir Starmer—gave the impression that the U.S. may be inclined to expedite Ukraine's invitation to NATO, as highlighted in the article. This could be feasible if Democratic Party candidate Kamala Harris wins the presidential election. It is also specified that Macron has long been advocating for Ukraine’s invitation to NATO, but Scholz has consistently resisted. "Convincing Germany on the issue of Ukraine in NATO is even more challenging than with Turkey or Hungary," the publication states.
As a Ukrainian source told FAZ reporters, the Americans have realized that a compromise to cease hostilities is only possible if Ukraine receives security guarantees that will protect it from further Russian aggression. However, there are also limitations on this issue, the publication adds. Currently, there is consideration in the U.S. that this should not be an "invitation in the traditional sense." Sources in the U.S. note that the choice of wording could be altered so that the content is more of a political statement than a formal invitation.