Ukrainian aspirations to join NATO

Abstract

With the establishment of the Ukrainian state, there was a need to define its political and military place in the newly emerging geopolitical area after the collapse of the USSR. Ukraine has long hesi-tated between neutrality and closer political and military cooperation with Russia or NATO. Concepts clashed among its society and political class – pro-Russian and pro-Western. Russia lost the “stealth” war in Ukraine for the “rule of souls” with the West and resorted to the argument of force. This ultimately seems to have prompted Ukraine to firmly support integration with the West.