President Joe Biden has expressed his view that Kyiv is not currently prepared to be a member of NATO. He emphasized that Russia’s aggression in Ukraine must cease before the country can be considered for NATO membership.
In an interview released on Sunday with CNN’s Fareed Zakaria, President Biden discussed various foreign policy matters leading up to his weeklong trip to Lithuania for the 2023 NATO summit. One of the key issues raised was Ukraine’s desire to join the powerful defense alliance in its ongoing conflict with Russia.
“I don’t believe Ukraine is prepared for NATO membership,” stated Biden, emphasizing the importance of unity within the alliance. He believes that Russian President Vladimir Putin’s objective has been to divide the 30 member countries of NATO.
Regarding the question of Ukraine’s inclusion in NATO, the President expressed that there is no unanimity within NATO at present on the matter, given the ongoing conflict. He stated, “If we were to admit Ukraine into NATO while the war is still ongoing, it would imply a commitment of all NATO territory to the conflict. We would effectively be at war with Russia.”
To join NATO, unanimous agreement from all member countries is required to determine the readiness of a prospective member. While NATO leaders stated in 2008 that Ukraine would eventually become a member, no specific roadmap was established, despite persistent appeals from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
President Biden confirmed that he has discussed NATO membership with President Zelenskyy and assured him that the U.S. will continue to provide security and arms assistance throughout the membership process.
“I believe we need to outline a rational path for Ukraine to meet the qualifications for NATO membership,” said President Biden during the interview. He also emphasized that he rejected Putin’s demand prior to the war for the U.S. to pledge not to admit Ukraine to NATO, citing the alliance’s “open-door policy.”
However, the President added that it is premature to call for a vote on Ukraine’s NATO membership at this moment. He stressed the need for a ceasefire or peace agreement before the process can commence, as well as the importance of democratization and other criteria.
The conflict between Russia and Ukraine has entered its 500th day since Russia’s aggressive invasion. Initially expecting a swift victory, Russia encountered strong resistance from Ukrainian forces backed by powerful countries, including NATO members.
Last week, the White House announced the provision of cluster munitions to Ukraine, a move that sparked divided reactions from Congress. This decision is likely to face scrutiny at the NATO summit, with more than two-thirds of members having banned the weapon due to its track record of causing civilian casualties.
President Biden described the decision to send cluster munitions as a difficult one, following the recommendation of the Defense Department. He highlighted the importance of assisting Ukraine in sustaining its counteroffensive against Russian forces, as the Ukrainian military is running low on ammunition.
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