> Right, so NATO could have decided to admit Ukraine at any time and then immediately attempt to force Russia out of Crimea
Just like when they admitted Spain, they immediately tried to force Britain out of Gibraltar. (Yes, that's an actual, ongoing, territorial dispute, that also involves a meta-dispute over who gets to be involved on discussion about resolving the primary dispute.)
The Washington Treaty does not have a prohibition against resolving territorial disputes without immediate resort to armed force.
