The NATO membership of Ukraine is currently a hot topic of debate among key US allies, including the United Kingdom. The upcoming 75th-anniversary summit in Washington will be the stage for discussions on how strongly to commit to Ukraine’s NATO membership. Some European countries are criticizing the US for not being willing to go as far as they would like, especially those close to Russia’s border, according to multiple sources familiar with the discussions.
US and German officials have proposed a pledge that Ukraine has a “bridge” to NATO membership, rather than an “irreversible path” favored by the UK and several Eastern and Central European nations. The language issued by the alliance about Ukraine during the summit will be crucial in outlining to the world, and Russia in particular, the goals for Ukraine within NATO.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken stated during a NATO Foreign Ministerial in Prague that concrete steps would be taken to bring Ukraine closer to NATO and ensure a strong and well-lit bridge to membership. Despite discussions, some NATO members are hesitant to use the word “irreversible” due to Ukraine not implementing all necessary reforms for membership.
As the summit approaches, tensions persist among allies regarding the clarity of Ukraine’s pathway to NATO membership. Central European countries are expressing disappointment in the Biden administration’s lack of firm commitment. European allies have been lobbying the White House to make Ukraine’s pathway as clear as possible, with some calling for a fast-track to membership.
NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg expressed confidence that the alliance will have a good solution by the time of the summit and that the language regarding Ukraine’s membership will be clear. Russian President Vladimir Putin has indicated that peace talks with Ukraine would only begin if Kyiv abandons its NATO aspirations.
The US has signed a ten-year defense pact with Ukraine, positioning it as a bridge to eventual NATO membership. However, many Europeans believe this falls short and are advocating for a more irreversible commitment to Ukraine’s NATO membership. The exact language of the NATO communique regarding Ukraine remains under discussion as the summit approaches.
