Biden spills the tea: Is Ukraine’s fate in NATO already sealed?

US President Joe Biden asserted that Ukraine’s induction into the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) is a question of ‘when’ rather than ‘if’.

Despite this affirmation, he added a caveat that Ukraine’s ongoing conflict with Russia makes its immediate entry into the alliance impossible. These comments were delivered at a Helsinki press conference, following the NATO summit which refrained from establishing a timeline for Ukraine’s membership.

President Biden emphasized the US’s unwavering commitment to NATO. He addressed doubts surrounding this allegiance due to political instability in the US, assuring that the country’s commitment is steadfast. These uncertainties had been fueled by his predecessor, former president Donald Trump, who had once threatened to withdraw the US from NATO. Biden expressed confidence in the enduring value of the alliance, describing it as the “best bet” for future security.

In terms of the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, Biden indicated that Russian President Vladimir Putin had effectively ‘lost the war’. He hinted that a counterattack from Ukrainian forces might eventually compel Russia to negotiate. On the subject of nuclear weapons, Biden downplayed the likelihood of their deployment by Russia in the conflict.

The US President was in Helsinki to meet with Nordic leaders, having attended the NATO summit in Vilnius prior. He used the platform to underscore the invigorating effect the Russian invasion of Ukraine has had on NATO. He welcomed Finland’s recent decision to join NATO and expressed positive anticipation for Sweden’s potential membership, despite earlier objections from Turkey.