My wife, who rarely gets political or discusses international affairs, made a rather astute comment:

[Tommy Carcetti]

Regarding the fact that Ukraine wishes to be a part of NATO now, but can't be a part of NATO now because it is currently in a state of war, she compared it to a person wanting to get insurance but is refused coverage because of a pre-existing condition.

What's tragic is that after the 2005 Orange Revolution, Ukraine began its process to seek NATO admission.

After Yanukovych was elected in 2011, he put the kibash on NATO membership for Ukraine.

Four days after Yanukovych fled Ukraine in the wake of the 2014 Maidan Revolution, Russia invaded Crimea, thus foreclosing Ukraine's NATO hopes.

If Ukraine had been granted NATO membership sometime before 2014, guaranteed Putin wouldn't have touched it.

[Joinfortmill]

1. Your wife is spot on and it sucks, bigly, for Ukraine and the world.

[colorado_ufo]

2. The UN needs to do more.

[Escurumbele]

3. The way I see it is like this. Putin is doing something illegal by invading Ukraine, so why can't

NATO do something illegal, which I don't think it is, and make Ukraine a member NOW.

It should have been done months ago because everyone knew Putin was getting ready to invade. No one can tell me "this was unexpected", that is total bullshit.

[Crunchy Frog]

17. It wouldn't be illegal, it would just be provocative.

[cstanleytech]

4. Actually I would compare it more to an bus accident with many people that are

critically injured and they are taken to the hospital and the doctors in the ER have to make judgement calls on which one's to try and save first.
Guess right and all the patients will live but guess wrong and you will lose some if not all of them.

[jaxexpat]

5. Oh, yes.

[jmbar2]

6. Had a similar thought last nite

Heard an interview with the Ukrainian ambassador to the U.S. discussing all the things they have been doing to meet the qualifications to join NATO. How can they meet the requirements when subject to constant meddling, and now obliteration. Give them credit for what they've been able to do, under such dire circumstances.

There is no better advertisement for democracy than the contrast between Ukraine and Russia.

[soldierant]

8. + a googol

[BlueJac]

7. Yes kinda like that.

[Bev54]

9. Ukraine has had a lot of corruption and much of it by

Putin supporters. Zelenskyy has been trying to clean up that corruption but NATO has to be sure before turning over their playbook to them. I think now, if he can get through this war, it will be easy for him to clean it up with the help of he west and in full support from the people. I do understand why they were not given entrance prior though.

[FakeNoose]

10. They should make it possible to override the "regular" rules when there's an emergency

I'll bet the NATO members would all vote Ukraine in, if they had the chance.

[Captain Zero]

12. Make it a provisional membership?

With a list of things that have to accomplished prior to having the full playbook handed to them?

One provision could be full vetting for Russian ties of anyone working in their National Security apparatus?

[Hortensis]

11. Ukraine didn't qualify for admission for a long time. Rampant,

intense corruption in control of government -- government created TO institutionalize corruption and predation of the populace on a scale unimaginable in most nations, plus significant control by Russia, were prohibitive problems.

Since 2014's Revolution of Dignity threw out and took over much of the government, Ukraine has made big advances, including cleaning out and rebuilding their government, replacing a judicial system that had been created to faclitate corruption with the rule of law, tax structures to fund the nation instead of funneling everything to the kleptocrats, and so on.

In any case, that's what Obama sent VP Biden there for -- we were working with EU nations, IMF, others to create a functioning government and cut the alliance of Ukrainian kleptocrats with Russia.

But much was still to be done when tRump/GOP got control of the U.S... And of course Russia's been working all along on various fronts, including with Ukrainian billionaires and organized crime, to reestablish control. Russia of course also invaded Ukraine in 2014, took Crimea, and has been waging war in Ukraine ever since, threatening full-scale war if Ukraine joined NATO.

But and btw, those encouraged people not to vote Democratic in 2016 could never begin to make up for the damage they caused to all humanity, but at least should never be listened to. That disastrous election has devastated the planet, and the disaster is still unfolding.

[calimary]

13. This.

Especially the last paragraph.

[Cheezoholic]

14. This...n/t

[KS Toronado]

15. What would happen to the war if NATO

would put out a statement they were going to hold a special meeting/vote to admit Ukraine into NATO?

[TheRickles]

16. A good article about why Ukraine should NOT be admitted to NATO

https://www.commondreams.org/views/2022/03/07/how-us-could-solve-ukraine-crisis-tomorrow

Two key points that he explains in the article: "If the U.S. is sincerely interested in a peaceful resolution of the crisis—and for argument's sake, let's assume that it is—it can attain that end with two simple moves: declare that Ukraine will not be admitted into NATO; and remove its offensive nuclear missiles from Russia's borders."

[Crunchy Frog]

18. It's bullshit.

[TheRickles]

19. Well, I guess that settles it!

[Poiuyt]

21. So essentially, cave to Putin's wishes.

[deelee]

20. It seems more like someone who has passed on paying for insurance coverage for years

decides to buy insurance after they get diagnosed with cancer

I fully support their effort, and support selling them weapons, providing tactical support, and sanctioning Russia, but they have not been part of NATO, and I really wouldn't want to risk American lives to defend them at this point.