NATO alliance sources: US, Germany main opponents of Ukraine in NATO

The United States and Germany are the main opponents of Ukraine joining NATO too soon, diplomatic sources within the alliance said on Monday, ahead of a 75th anniversary summit of the alliance.

A source referred to the US and Germany's "strong opposition" towards inviting Ukraine to join the alliance without fulfilling the necessary preconditions. "In the end, it will be a decision by the allies to invite Ukraine to join NATO," the source said.

The comments deal a further blow to Ukraine's hopes of progress, following their anger at a lack of invitation at the last NATO summit in the Lithuanian capital Vilnius.

"The Ukrainians were quite annoyed when they concluded that the door was open, but not that much. And I think the scenario for the Washington summit is the same," the source said.