NATO leaders will seek ways to console Ukraine and Georgia at a summit on Thursday after failing to agree to open the door of the Western military alliance to the former Soviet republics.
The 26 leaders will also face concerns about stability in the Balkans after Greece blocked an invitation to Macedonia to join NATO due to a row over the former Yugoslav republic's name.
The double setback for U.S. President George W. Bush on the first day of his final NATO summit overshadowed agreement to invite two other Balkan countries -- Croatia and Albania -- to join the 26-nation defence alliance, and progress on extra troops for Afghanistan.
"It's not a question of defeat. I think the question will be if the alliance can come together and show that the door remains open," a senior U.S. official said after the leaders failed to reach consensus on admitting Ukraine and Georgia to NATO's Membership Action Plan - a gateway to eventual entry.
Germany and France had led opposition to the move, saying it was premature when public support for NATO was barely 30 percent in Ukraine and Georgia did not control all its territory due to frozen conflicts with Russian-backed separatists.
NATO spokesman James Appathurai played down any impression that Russia had succeeded in blocking the decision, saying the allies were united in rejecting any outside veto or influence.
However, Georgian President Mikhail Saakashvili warned earlier in the week that a rebuff for his country would amount to "appeasement" of Russia and embolden hardliners to make mischief in two breakaway Georgian regions.
GOOD NEWS
While France combined to deflect Bush's drive to extend the eastern borders of NATO right up to Russia's frontiers, it did deliver a boost for the alliance in its most challenging security mission in Afghanistan.
