Ukraine could face challenges from NATO

There is no doubt that Ukraine would benefit from NATO's defining credo, which states that an armed attack against any member is considered an attack against them all. President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia has indicated that he sees the possibility of Ukrainian membership as a strategic threat and appears to be a pretext for his invasion.

The U.S. officials say they will not appease Mr. Putin by quashing Kyiv's ambition to join the alliance. Washington and its European allies don't want to further antagonize Russia and risk a war.

France and Germany have opposed or were skeptical of Ukraine's inclusion in the past. Analysts say that President Biden, wary of further U.S. military commitments, has been reluctant to support Ukraine's membership.

Even if Ukraine could overcome those hurdles, it could face other challenges.

NATO respects an open-door policy that states that any European nation that wants to join can do so if it meets certain requirements. Among them is a commitment to democracy, individual liberty and support for the rule of law. Some American and European officials argue that their country meets that threshold, while Ukrainian leaders say their country meets that threshold.