The Secretary General of NATO accurately reflected the decision when he said that all members agreed that Ukraine should join the alliance. This is exactly what was agreed in 2008, but even then without a specific date for accession. And that's still missing.

There is even one condition: the war must be over, as not only the German government emphasizes. Stoltenberg is even more precise and therefore more honest: Ukraine must survive the Russian attack.

Indeed, a Ukraine occupied or dominated by Russia could not be admitted to NATO, not even to the EU.

Credibility of deterrence

Zelensky will know all this. But he has also learned in recent months that he can go far if he demands a lot from his allies. Nevertheless, he will not get the security guarantees on the road to membership, which he would like to have from the NATO summit in July.

In contrast to arms deliveries, there really is a red line here: at present, any form of formal declaration of assistance would drag the West itself into the war or, if it is not fulfilled, would make NATO's deterrence implausible. Neither would benefit Europe's security, as bitter as that is for Ukraine.