U.S. Leaders Insist That War with Russia Must End Before Ukraine Joins NATO

Ahead of this week’s NATO summit in Lithuania, U.S. leaders are emphasizing that the war with Russia must come to an end before Ukraine can be invited to join the powerful military alliance. President Biden stated in an interview with CNN’s Fareed Zakaria that he does not believe there will be “unanimity” on Ukraine’s membership while the nation remains “in the middle of a war.” Biden emphasized that the United States is determined to protect every inch of NATO territory and that Ukraine’s inclusion in the alliance would put them at war with Russia.

Biden also mentioned that it is premature to call for a vote on Ukrainian membership as the country still needs to meet certain NATO qualifications. He stated that he and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky have discussed the issue extensively and need to establish a rational path for Ukraine to qualify. Despite this, Biden assured that the United States remains committed to providing the necessary security assistance to Ukraine to defend against Russia.

Similarly, Rep. Michael McCaul, chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, and Sen. Christopher A. Coons expressed their belief that Ukraine’s membership in NATO is premature. McCaul stated that Ukraine needs to win the counteroffensive against Russia, secure a cease-fire, and negotiate a peace settlement before joining the alliance. Coons added that the war must end with a Ukrainian victory and that Ukraine also needs to join the European Union, which involves improving transparency, rule of law, and civil society.

These comments on Ukraine’s bid for NATO membership come shortly after President Biden approved the shipment of U.S. cluster munitions to Ukraine. These weapons have sparked controversy due to their indiscriminate nature and the risk they pose to both troops and civilians. However, National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan assured that Ukraine has agreed to only use these munitions on its own territory and not in populated areas.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky expressed his belief that inviting Ukraine into NATO is a matter of political will. He emphasized the importance of clear security guarantees from NATO members in the fight against Russia. Zelensky will attend the summit in Vilnius, Lithuania, this week to expedite a solution and reach an agreement with NATO partners.

John Kirby, the spokesman for the U.S. National Security Council, stated that strong commitments will be made to Ukraine during the upcoming summit. He assured that the allies will remain unified in supporting Ukraine in its fight against Russia and that NATO will eventually be in Ukraine’s future. Kirby also emphasized that the allies will continue to assist Ukraine in defending itself until the war ends and NATO membership becomes a reality.

While President Biden remains skeptical about Ukraine’s immediate ascension into NATO, he expressed optimism about Sweden’s membership bid. Biden believes that Sweden, which has also been fighting for membership, should become a NATO member soon. However, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban have raised objections to adding Sweden to the alliance. Turkey has criticized Sweden for refusing to extradite individuals it sees as terrorists, while Hungary has cited various reasons for its refusal to ratify Sweden’s accession.

In response to Turkey’s criticisms, Biden argued that it is not Swedes who are burning the Quran but immigrants residing in Sweden. The White House stated that Biden and Erdogan discussed Sweden’s membership bid, with Biden expressing his desire to welcome Sweden into NATO as soon as possible. Erdogan acknowledged that Sweden has taken steps to address Turkey’s concerns but claimed that these efforts were voided by PKK protests.

The NATO summit in Lithuania this week will

What specific benchmarks and qualifications does Ukraine need to meet before it can become a member of NATO, as acknowledged by the President

The disputed regions of Crimea and Donbas.

The focus on ending the war with Russia before considering Ukraine’s NATO membership reflects the cautious approach taken by U.S. leaders. They recognize the complexities and risks involved in integrating Ukraine into the alliance while it is still engaged in conflict with Russia.

President Biden’s statements highlight the need for unanimity among NATO members regarding Ukraine’s membership. This suggests that not all member countries may be on board with Ukraine joining the alliance at this time. Biden also emphasizes the importance of protecting NATO territory and expresses concern that Ukraine’s inclusion could escalate tensions with Russia further.

The President acknowledges that Ukraine has yet to meet certain NATO qualifications and that a rational path needs to be established for the country to qualify. This indicates that there are specific benchmarks that need to be met before Ukraine can become a member.

Congressional leaders, such as Rep. McCaul and Sen. Coons, share the view that Ukraine’s membership in NATO is premature. They believe that Ukraine needs to secure a cease-fire, win the counteroffensive against Russia, and negotiate a peace settlement before joining the alliance. Additionally, Sen. Coons emphasizes the importance of Ukraine also joining the European Union and making improvements in areas such as transparency, rule of law, and civil society.

The recent approval of the shipment of U.S. cluster munitions to Ukraine has sparked controversy due to concerns over their indiscriminate nature and the risks they pose. However, it is noted that Ukraine has committed to only using these munitions on its own territory and not in the disputed regions of Crimea and Donbas.

Overall, the statements by U.S. leaders highlight a cautious and deliberate approach to Ukraine’s NATO membership. Ending the war with Russia, meeting NATO qualifications, and addressing broader issues of stability and development are seen as prerequisites for considering Ukraine’s integration into the alliance.