The President of the Czech Republic, Petr Pavel, expressed skepticism regarding the prospects of Ukraine’s swift accession to NATO, deeming such intentions currently unrealistic
In an interview with Politico, he emphasized that despite firm support for Ukraine’s sovereignty and security, rapid integration of Kyiv into the Alliance in the short term remains unlikely. The main reason for this stance he attributes to the situation in the United States and the position of current President Joe Biden, particularly the influential role played by the administration of former American leader Donald Trump. According to the information presented by "European Pravda," Pavel notes that although his personal position is pro-Ukrainian, the political and military situation in the world, especially in the U.S., dictates different realities. "Frankly speaking, inviting Ukraine to join NATO on a short timeline is currently unrealistic due to opposition from the Trump administration and possibly other key players in global politics," the President of the Czech Republic stated. At the same time, he stresses that this situation should not serve as a reason to abandon the idea of Ukraine’s future NATO membership. On the contrary, he believes allies should maintain a proactive stance and not lose faith in Kyiv’s prospects of integrating into the military alliance. In his view, once Ukraine becomes a NATO member, it will significantly strengthen the Alliance and enhance regional security. "We need to create stronger economic pressure on Russia, as it is clear that Moscow is currently experiencing difficulties, and these factors should be considered in a long-term strategy," Pavel added. Regarding geopolitical prospects, it remains uncertain whether President Volodymyr Zelensky will be invited to participate in the NATO summit scheduled for June in The Hague. Although no official confirmation of his attendance has been announced, there are reports suggesting that the Ukrainian leader is likely to be present at events focused on the defense industry and cooperation among Alliance countries, which will run alongside the main summit. The Dutch Minister of Defense, whose country will host the Hague summit, stated that his government is actively exploring opportunities to involve Zelensky in the summit’s programs to bolster international support for Ukraine on security and defense matters. At the same time, due to the change in the U.S. administration and Trump's activity within NATO, preparations are underway for a brief mini-declaration for the forum, likely without explicit references to Ukraine. This reflects the complexity of diplomatic processes and the balancing of interests among key players in Euro-Atlantic politics ahead of the crucial summit. In conclusion, the prospects of Ukraine’s rapid accession to NATO remain uncertain, and the current situation requires patience and a strategic approach from Ukrainian leadership and all allies. The primary focus is on strengthening partner activities, creating more robust economic and military pressure mechanisms on Russia, and gradually preparing for long-term reforms in Ukraine’s defense sector.