Ukraine cannot and should not be allowed to enter NATO period. Ukraine can become part of the EU and Russia must allow this in exchange for Ukraine not entering NATO. No Russian President regardless of political leaning would allow such encroachment to happen. Check the map of where NATO is located it's really surrounded RUSSIA. That's not imperialism that's protecting RUSSIAN sovereignty and historical legacy as well as pride. In the perfect world I can agree with much of what you wrote, but we don't live in such environment.