[s1artibartfast]

>NATO was less ready to accept any new members half a year ago than it is now.

That's probably the case for many of the nordics but not Ukraine.

In 2021 NATO declared verbatim that Ukraine would become part of NATO and its process would proceed. Now it is on hold because NATO doesn't admit Nations with active conflicts and territorial disputes.

Of course russia doesnt get a formal vote in who NATO admits, but they have a de facto vote via the invasion. The US and NATO are scaling back military exercises in the Black Sea this year[1], which historically threatened Russia.

https://gcaptain.com/us-navy-ships-stay-home-nato-flexes-bla...