Article 5: NATO's common defense pledge that stands in the way of Ukraine's admission while at war

VILNIUS, Lithuania (AP) — Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy may have gotten support and vague assurances from NATO leaders in Vilnius this week, but he ultimately returns home without a clear commitment that his country will be joining the club any time soon.

Instead, the alliance leaders said they were removing obstacles on Ukraine's membership path so that it can join more quickly once the war with Russia is over.

For many, that argument gives Russia's president a pretext to prolong the war, which President Vladimir Putin ostensibly launched to keep Ukraine from joining NATO.

But if Uk...