Biden closes door to Ukraine’s NATO membership until war with Russia ends
In an interview with CNN, President Biden stated that Ukraine’s conflict with Russia must come to a resolution before the country can join NATO. He explained that there is no consensus within NATO regarding Ukraine’s inclusion in the military alliance.
Biden highlighted certain issues regarding Ukraine’s eligibility, including the need for further democratization. He emphasized the importance of outlining a logical pathway for Ukraine to qualify for NATO membership.
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He acknowledged that there is currently no unanimity within NATO on the matter, especially amidst an ongoing war. Biden explained that if Ukraine were to join NATO while the conflict persists, it would mean a commitment to defend every inch of NATO territory, which would effectively mean being at war with Russia.
Despite the NATO membership issue, Biden assured that the United States will continue providing aid to Ukraine as it defends itself against Russian President Vladimir Putin’s invasion. The US has already contributed nearly $100 billion to support Ukraine in this effort.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has been advocating for NATO membership for months since Russia’s invasion. Joining NATO would require the US and Western allies to fully engage in the conflict and declare war on Russia, a prospect that Biden is not yet prepared for.
Furthermore, Biden expressed his support for delivering F-16 fighter jets to the Ukrainian forces. The process of training Ukrainian pilots for this endeavor has already begun, although it will take several months to complete.
Biden’s stance on this matter shifted from his previous opposition in January to now endorsing the idea and calling for training to commence in May.
