The shortest path to triggering a third world war: the West lacks consensus on inviting Ukraine to NATO, and Germany and Hungary are outright against it

Following the presentation of Volodymyr Zelensky’s “victory plan,” there has been widespread commentary in the West on the unrealistic prospects of Ukraine’s NATO membership.

The White House reiterated that there is no consensus within NATO on inviting Ukraine to join the alliance.

“There is an ongoing discussion among NATO allies about the invitation. At the moment, there is no consensus on extending an invitation to Ukraine. However, as you know, at the NATO summit in mid-July, all 32 allies reaffirmed that Ukraine is on an irreversible path to membership. The issue now is how to tactically encourage this path and reach consensus on the next steps,” said a representative of Joe Biden’s administration during a briefing, according to the White House website.

Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk also acknowledged the lack of agreement among allies regarding Zelensky’s “victory plan” and the invitation of Ukraine to NATO. Tusk emphasized that the primary focus of the plan is on Ukraine’s NATO membership prospects.

“I wouldn’t say there is complete harmony [among EU leaders] in evaluating the victory plan presented by Volodymyr Zelensky, but no one expected that. Every country has its own opinion on the war and Russian aggression. In fact, this plan revolves around one key point: the prospect of NATO membership,” Tusk stated.

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz rejected key aspects of Zelensky’s “victory plan” due to fears of further escalation of the war, as reported by *Bild*. Speaking in Brussels, Scholz confirmed that he would block a fast-track invitation for Ukraine into NATO, referencing the recent Washington summit where no consensus was reached on this issue, with the United States and Germany opposing the move.

“The resolution emphasized that an invitation to NATO can only happen when all allies agree and all conditions for membership are met. These conditions include reforms in democracy, economics, and security,” “Bild” noted.

In Hungary, Zelensky’s “victory plan” was labeled “the shortest path to triggering a third world war.” Hungarian officials urged NATO to rely solely on diplomatic means.

“Hungary does not support this plan. It aims to escalate military actions and drag NATO countries into the conflict, which is completely unacceptable for Hungary. Instead, the European Union and all member states should pursue a peaceful strategy, focusing on diplomacy rather than sending weapons and escalating the situation further,” said Balázs Orbán, advisor to the Hungarian Prime Minister, to reporters in Brussels.

It is important to note that an invitation to NATO is the first point of Zelensky’s “victory plan.”

However, Western media have reported that while Zelensky is trying to “sell” his plan to European leaders, it remains unclear whether they will accept it.