Why it Is More Profitable for the West to Have Ukraine as Part of NATO

Ukraine's membership in NATO is often debated in the context of Russo-Ukraine war. At the same time, no longer just a regional issue. It has become an indicator of the West's ability to resist authoritarian challenges, maintain stability in Europe, and maintain global leadership. Abandoning a clear course for Ukraine's accession to the Alliance would mean not only a retreat before the aggressor, but also a loss of strategic confidence in the entire Euro-Atlantic security system.

Russia's armed aggression against Ukraine is not a “conflict over territory,” but an attempt to undermine the entire post-Cold War security architecture. Since 2014, and especially since 2022, Ukraine has been acting as a buffer to restrain the further advance of Russian influence in Europe. It was Ukraine that stopped Russia from acting with impunity in Georgia, Syria, Moldova, and other areas of instability. At the same time, the Atlantic Council mentions that continuing the “open door” policy without concrete steps turns it into a fiction, which increases Moscow's sense of impunity and demoralizes NATO's partners in Europe.

The security guarantees for Ukraine that were not backed by NATO membership were already destroyed in 2014. Any “hybrid format” without membership creates a zone of uncertainty that only encourages further Russian aggression. As the Atlantic Council emphasizes, only Ukraine's full membership will ensure true deterrence and reduce the risk of a large-scale war in the future.

Ukraine should be part of NATO. This is necessary not only for Ukraine to maintain its own security, but also for NATO itself for a number of reasons.

The war in Ukraine has already become a conflict of values – between authoritarianism and democracy. Ukraine's accession to NATO sends a signal not only to the Kremlin but also to the world: democracies are capable of defending themselves and their allies.

Refusing to invite Ukraine sends a dangerous signal that violent border changes, repression, and war crimes can go unpunished. Instead, Kyiv's accession to the Alliance would be a victory for global law and order and the preservation of international norms.

Ukraine is one of the few countries in the world that is adapting its army to NATO standards in real time in the context of a full-scale war. Its experience includes not only classical military operations, but also innovations in drones, cyber defense, countering disinformation, and mobilizing society.

Unlike many member states that cut defense budgets after the Cold War, Ukraine invests more than 20% of its GDP in the security sector. This makes it one of the Alliance's most motivated and prepared partners.

It also sends a signal to other countries, such as Moldova and Georgia, that democratic choice and partnership with NATO have strategic weight and are not just rhetoric.

Control of the Black Sea is a key element of Russian military doctrine. Its full militarization – especially after the annexation of Crimea – threatens not only Ukraine but also NATO states (Romania, Bulgaria, and Turkey). Ukraine's accession radically changes the balance of power in the region.

Ukraine will strengthen NATO's presence to the south, create conditions for safe maritime traffic and ensure energy transit, especially in light of Europe's dependence on Russian gas.

At the same time, it should be understood that Ukraine outside of NATO will still need protection, as the Russian threat will not go away. It will be impossible for Ukraine to maintain parity with Russia on its own, which will mean that large-scale investments by Western partners in Ukraine's defense budget will be necessary to ensure that it is ready for any Russian challenges.

At the same time, this will mean that all European states will have to share these costs among themselves, even without spending these funds on their own defense capabilities. Ukraine in NATO would be much cheaper for everyone, because then the entire Alliance (including Ukraine) would have to have parity with Russia.

Moreover, it will be Ukraine that will invest in common security by spending the necessary percentage of GDP on its own defense. Instead of huge additional expenditures, the West will have an opportunity for serious savings and rational spending.

Ukraine's membership in NATO is the logical conclusion of its long journey as a part of Western civilization, but it is also a pragmatic decision for the West itself. It will strengthen the Alliance's combat capabilities, stabilize its eastern flank, strengthen the security of the Black Sea region, and demonstrate political consistency. This is a solution that will meet both the strategic and moral challenges of our time.

NATO needs Ukraine no less than Ukraine needs NATO.

Petro Oleshchuk, political scientist, Ph.D, expert at the United Ukraine Think Tank