OK, explain to me why this isn't possible? On Morning Joe, someone said that if Finland and

[Frustratedlady]

Sweden wanted to join NATO, it could be done by Friday.

So, why isn't the same done for Ukraine? They beg for help on a no-fly zone but NATO can't give it to them. Putin doesn't want Ukraine to be allowed to join NATO, so by doing so, it would show Putin his power is weak (except for nuclear).

It just seems we're trying to help Ukraine with one hand tied behind our back. If most of the world is in NATO, how can we start WWIII? He wouldn't know which way to turn. Seems we would have better control of nuclear plants than we do now.

I know there has to be a good reason, but I can't come up with it. Will someone explain (and, be kind)?

[uponit7771]

1. K&R, especially seeing there are ALREADY NATO countries on Putrids borders !!!

[Frustratedlady]

4. But, if Ukraine was in NATO, those countries could legally go in and help them, right?

If he realized all countries in NATO were aiming at him with more power than he presently has available (short of nuclear), it would surely bring him to his knees. Or, not.

[uponit7771]

8. No, not when we look like we're willing to hold back sans the economic sanctions.

[SheltieLover]

2. Kicking for visibility

[Walleye]

3. Maybe it has something to do with disputed territory with a neighbor on their border?

[Eyeball_Kid]

5. Joining NATO would likely be viewed as a provocation. Joining the EU? Not so much.

But I'd guess that there should be a very low risk of government overthrow in the aftermath of an EU admission. Once Russia evacuates UKR and Zelenskyy's government prevails, then EU admission is far more likely.

[lagomorph777]

14. A provocation? Putrid needs no provocation. He's rolling into NATO land next.

We have to stop him first.

[dumbcat]

6. A google search

for "Rules for Joining NATO" will get you lots of information, and better info than you are likely to get here.

And the guy on Morning Joe was wrong.

[left-of-center2012]

7. It would escalate the war

Issue similar to this have been debated here in DU over the past couple weeks.

[LaMouffette]

9. I have wondered this myself. The only explanation I can think of is that Biden and NATO are trying

to avoid giving Putin any excuse to use one of Russia's nukes.

And if he doesn't use it as an excuse to launch a nuke, then he could still use Ukraine becoming a member of NATO as a propaganda tool to "prove" to Russian citizens that the US and NATO are the true aggressors.

But I absolutely hate that we have to stand by and not use the full force of our military to end this heartbreaking situation.

[Jazz Jon]

10. Nuclear War

NATO is wise to try hard to avoid escalation, because of nuclear war.

Nuclear war. This is where there seems to be a lot of confusion. It seems from the comments I am reading that people don't understand nuclear war or MAD. Mutually Assured Destruction.

The US and Russia have enough nuclear weapons to end all life on Earth in a day. All life on earth in a day.
A fraction of the available nuclear weapons could do this.

Russia also has very low power "tactical" nuclear weapons that it could launch in limited selected areas without destroying vast swaths of a continent. These are more tempting to use because it would not be "Armagedon".... maybe. But it would be a pandoras box. Once a nuclear weapon is detonated in anger, all bets are off. It could escalate to the destruction of Earth.

The reasons the use of nukes in Japan didn't end the world is that only the US had them, and they were many times less powerful than today's warheads.

[ShazzieB]

11. Preach it!

I'm going to repeat what I consider the most important bit:

The US and Russia have enough nuclear weapons to end all life on Earth in a day. All life on earth in a day. A fraction of the available nuclear weapons could do this.

I hope everybody who isn't clear on this will read and reread these words until they sink in.

[Frustratedlady]

12. I understand this. We've lived under the threat for years. I also realize no one would want

to be the one who called his bluff. However, it is looking more and more each day that if his ego is bruised much more, he'll act anyway. What you and I think doesn't matter to him.

Since we can't get near him, I guess we sit and wait until his country turns on him or he empties Ukraine of all those brave people. It is excruciating to watch.

[Iwasthere]

16. It hasn't been a threat for years. World leaders have emphatically agreed they will NEVER be used

I suspect he will be ousted, one way or another. Hopefully very soon.

[lagomorph777]

13. Yeah, WTF?

We're at war, like it or not. We need to stop tying our own hands.

[iemanja]

15. It's always been because of Russia

It's why they weren't admitted before and why they aren't being admitted now.

[Jazz Jon]

17. Use all reasonable means

Having made that apocalyptic post above, I agree that all reasonable means be used to stop Putin. I will leave the definition of "reasonable" up to the leaders of the NATO countries.

I do hope that there are secret strategies being employed by NATO. I hope they stay secret. There are some for sure. We can be sure that there are unprecedented intelligence operations going on and that 99% of that information is being shared with Ukraine. NATO knows where every single piece of Russian equipment is sitting.

It does seem that Poland was guilty of a major faux pas when it publicly announced its Mig 29 decision. Once announced like that, it had to be nixed.

[localroger]

18. Nobody involved in an ongoing armed conflict can join NATO.

This is part of the NATO charter from the beginning to assure prospective members that the organization won't be used to drag them into a war for some other country that is not yet a member when they join.

[jojog]

19. True

The conflict in the eastern region, Putin induced, is why they could not get in before.

[Frustratedlady]

21. Not war...Putin calls it a special military exercise, or some such.

I guess all situations are covered by NATO, eh? Thanks for the info.

[sarisataka]

20. Does "someone on morning Joe"

Have any knowledge of NATO? The treaty or membership requirements?

Most of the world is not in NATO, currently only 30 countries are members and expansion is limited to European nations.