Ukraine's plan to join NATO has been shattered for now, after the country's latest attempt to become a member of the military alliance fell short due to the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. For years, Ukraine has been hoping to join NATO, a goal which was pursued more actively following the 2014 revolution and subsequent Russian annexation of Crimea. In 2017, Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko submitted an application to join the alliance, but that was rejected by NATO leaders, who cited the ongoing conflict in the east of Ukraine as a potential obstacle.

Since then, the conflict has only grown more intense, with no signs of resolution in sight. The war has led to a deepening split in Ukraine, with Russian-backed forces controlling much of the eastern region. Consequently, all efforts on the part of Ukraine’s government to join the military alliance have been put on hold.

The current deadlock has left Ukraine's NATO aspirations in limbo. This is a major setback for the country, which had been touting NATO membership as a way of guaranteeing security and stability. Without the protection of NATO, Ukraine will also continue to struggle to access the military aid it needs to defend itself against possible Russian aggression. The lack of NATO readiness has also led to a reduction in foreign investment into the country, as many potential investors view the situation as too risky..

The good news is that NATO has not completely closed the door on the possibility of Ukraine joining the alliance at some point in the future. NATO leaders are open to the idea, but have made it clear that first Ukraine needs to focus on resolving the conflict with Russia and restoring stability. Until that happens, it seems that Ukraine’s dream of joining NATO will remain shattered.