In doing so, they’ve signed the death warrant for their own credibility as an ally.

You aligned with the US/NATO explicitly because they were a big, strong military and economic partner, who could provide deterrence, and if that failed, prevent you from losing the war.

This alliance will deliver Ukraine less-than-zero benefit: they’ll still lose the war, but being propped up and egged on means it will take longer, be bloodier and more destructive, and leave them with more debt.

Perhaps the “deterrence” factor was limited because they weren’t Core NATO and there was no Article 5 trigger risk. It still suggests there’s no value in cozying up to the institution if you can’t qualify for full membership, and even then, would they really pull out all the stops for a new member of low value?