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Ukraine’s parliament voted to enshrine its aspiration to join NATO in its constitution, a move signaling Kyiv’s continued westward shift despite ongoing conflict with Russia. The vote, taken in 2018, formalized a goal that has fluctuated with Ukrainian politics since the country’s independence in 1991.
Relations between Ukraine and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization began in the wake of the Soviet Union’s dissolution. Ukraine initially pursued closer ties with NATO throughout the 1990s and 2000s, participating in the Partnership for Peace program in 1994 and establishing the NATO-Ukraine Commission in 1997 to foster cooperation. In 2005, Ukraine joined NATO’s Intensified Dialogue program, a step towards potential membership.
However, progress stalled at the 2008 Bucharest summit, where NATO declined to offer Ukraine a Membership Action Plan, despite stating the country would eventually join the alliance. A shift occurred during the presidency of Viktor Yanukovych, who in 2010 secured a parliamentary vote to reaffirm Ukraine’s neutral status, though cooperation with NATO continued.
The 2014 Ukrainian Revolution, which led to Yanukovych’s removal from office, prompted a reversal. Following Russia’s annexation of Crimea and the outbreak of conflict in eastern Ukraine that same year, the Ukrainian parliament again voted to seek NATO membership. This decision was subsequently enshrined in the constitution in 2018.
NATO has consistently condemned Russia’s actions in Ukraine and affirmed its support for Kyiv’s sovereignty. While not a member, Ukraine is a partner country, engaging in close cooperation with the alliance. NATO has increased its support for Ukraine following the 2022 Russian invasion, though it maintains that Ukraine is not covered by the alliance’s collective defense clause.
Russian opposition to Ukrainian NATO membership has intensified throughout the Russo-Ukrainian War. In late 2021, a significant Russian military buildup around Ukraine preceded the full-scale invasion, raising concerns about further escalation.