NATO's Divided Loyalties: A Test for Ukraine and Its Allies Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky's impassioned plea to join NATO has exposed the alliance's deep divisions.
On the surface, NATO appears united in its support for Ukraine's sovereignty and security, but scratch beneath the veneer and it becomes clear that this unity is more a product of rhetoric than reality.
During his July 7, 2026, meeting with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte in Ankara, Turkey, Zelensky echoed the sentiments of many Ukrainians: "Do you really believe it would be right to leave outside NATO, a country and a people with this level of defensive capability?