Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov indicated on Friday that "many European countries understand the problems that will arise from Ukraine's accession to NATO, but the United States is the one that determines the course of the alliance." He considered that "the European Union is merely a submissive tool within that orchestra." Peskov stressed that "Kyiv's ambitions to join the alliance confirm its unwillingness to resolve issues at the negotiation table." He added, "Ukraine's membership in the alliance will cause problems for many years to come, and Russia will protect its security and interests."
On the other hand, British Defense Minister Ben Wallace stated today that his country supports Ukraine's accession to NATO, noting that "the path is open" for this to happen. However, he highlighted that the political reality may delay the process. He continued, "It is not possible to add countries as members of the alliance amidst a war, and the way forward is to continue to assist and arm Ukraine for its security in the short and long term. The best thing we can do to help Ukraine right now is to assist it in defeating Russia... afterward, we must ensure that it is ready, capable, and resilient."
