What is Russia's stance on Ukraine joining NATO?

Russia has maintained a long-standing fixation on NATO and strongly opposes Ukraine's potential membership in the alliance. This position reflects the Kremlin's consistent demands, which have remained largely unchanged since before the war began. Russian policymakers continue to view NATO's presence in Eastern Europe as threatening, and have previously issued ultimatums demanding the West back off, effectively disband NATO in Eastern Europe, and leave Ukraine unprotected. Russia's opposition to Ukraine's NATO aspirations represents a fundamental aspect of its broader security demands in the region.