FACT, currently NATO will not allow Ukraine membership into NATO

[KS Toronado]

I have not seen MSM TV news talking about this

Ukraine applied to join in 2008. NATO does spell out criteria that prospective new members should meet. These
include a functioning democracy based on a market economy, fair treatment of minority populations and a
commitment to resolve conflicts peacefully......NATO has also made clear that having “unresolved external territorial
disputes” weighs against being admitted, a consideration that gives Putin an edge, since Russian forces occupy
internationally recognized parts of Georgia (Abkhazia and South Ossetia) and Ukraine (Crimea).

Officially, NATO stands by its 2008 pledge to admit....Ukraine once they meet the criteria, with no consensus on when
that might be. Some NATO members, including Poland and Baltic states Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania, would sign up
Ukraine tomorrow if they could. But Germany and France in particular insist that as long as Russian troops are in
Ukraine (Crimea), membership is not going to happen.

Full article here.....

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2022-01-12/how-a-country-joins-nato-and-why-putin-cares-quicktake

[zaj]

1. That requirement incentives Putin to fight a war and seize land

Keep it in dispute.

[lagomorph777]

2. Yup.

[KS Toronado]

4. The way the article reads

as long as Putin has Crimea, he already has everything he needs to keep Ukraine out of NATO.

[Bev54]

3. Ukraine has had a number of corrupt governments, including the one previous

this current government. NATO needs to know it is a real and stable democratic government, not with insurgent Oligarchs and Russian sympathizers. I understand they are reluctant until they can be assured the country is stable. It is difficult with Russia next door but with the west's help it can happen however this new government has not been there long enough.

[WHITT]

5. The Main Issue In 2008

was high levels of corruption, and there's been no evidence of improvement.