Biden drops bombshell: Ukraine’s NATO dreams on hold

Amid the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war, US President Joe Biden clarified that Ukraine is not yet ready to join the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO).

He made this statement in a recent CNN interview, suggesting the war-ravaged country lacks the unanimity in NATO required to gain membership at this juncture. However, he reassured that the U.S. and its allies would continue to provide the necessary security and weaponry to Ukrainian forces.

In the interview, Biden indicated that any immediate induction of Ukraine into NATO amidst an ongoing war would risk escalating the conflict. He explained that NATO’s commitment to protect every inch of its territory could potentially lead to a war with Russia.

Biden also pointed out that the path to NATO membership for Ukraine needs to be rational. This involves meeting various qualifications, including advancing its democratization efforts. Despite Russia’s demands prior to the war, Biden emphasized that NATO maintains an open-door policy. However, he asserted it is premature to call for a vote on Ukraine’s membership due to the outstanding issues that need to be addressed.

US President Joe Biden highlights challenges of Ukraine joining NATO. Photo courtesy of The White House/Wikimedia Commons.

Biden’s comments came as he embarked on a significant three-nation trip, with a NATO summit in Lithuania being one of the key agendas. The summit is expected to show solidarity with Ukraine but stop short of offering Kyiv membership to the defense alliance.

During his trip, Biden is set to meet British monarch King Charles III and Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, discussing various topics of mutual interest, including Ukraine and climate change.

Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky expressed his hopes for a favorable outcome from the upcoming NATO summit. He conveyed his anticipation for a clear signal on the possibility of Ukraine joining the alliance in the future. In the lead-up to the summit, Zelensky and his Polish counterpart Andrzej Duda agreed to work together for Ukraine’s best possible result.