Ukraine's NATO membership would be bad for Putin, but great for the Russian economy, professor says

• Russia's economy could return to global markets if Ukraine joins NATO, Konstantin Sonin wrote.
• The Russia scholar said Kyiv's membership in the alliance would make it harder for the Kremlin to justify outsized military spending.
• While it wouldn't undo the damage Putin has inflicted on the economy, it would help with recovery.

Allowing Ukraine to join NATO's ranks would weaken Vladimir Putin, but Russia's economy and its people would benefit, according to University of Chicago professor Konstantin Sonin.