Analysis
Democratic Security
Union Jack and the White Eagle. Significance of the Poland-UK Defence Treaty
28 May 2026
9 July 2024
Hopes are low for major progress on Ukrainian integration at NATO’s Washington Summit. Western leaders are wary of extending membership invitation to Ukraine – beyond mere rhetoric – for fears of Russian retaliation, when integration is precisely the key to Ukraine’s survival and, by extension, European peace, security and democracy.
Before last year’s NATO summit in Vilnius, Ukraine’s aspirations for Euro-Atlantic integration were high, yet the decision to bypass the NATO Membership Action Plan fell short of expectations.
As the Washington summit begins today, hopes have noticeably dimmed. Once again, no radical decisions are anticipated, and debates among NATO members on Ukraine’s future membership – whether as a bridge or an “irreversible path” – are observed from afar.