President Biden traveled to Vilnius, Lithuania, for crucial meetings with America’s NATO allies. The focus of the two-day summit will be on Russia and the threat it poses to eastern Europe as Vladimir Putin continues his war against Ukraine. Even before the official start of the summit, a significant agreement was announced. Turkey, a current NATO member, has dropped its opposition to Sweden joining the alliance. The pending accession of Sweden, with its powerful navy, sends a strong signal to Putin that his war has united the West against him. This move has motivated other nations, such as Finland, to seek NATO membership. During his arrival for the summit, President Biden expressed his excitement to convene with 32 members, including Sweden.
The NATO leaders gathered in Vilnius amidst the recent Wagner mercenary group mutiny in Russia. Putin’s meeting with Wagner’s leader, Yevgeny Prigozhin, shortly after the mutiny, adds to the tensions between NATO countries and Russia. Lithuania’s President Gitanas Nauseda discussed the deteriorating situation with President Biden.
Protecting NATO’s eastern flank from an increasingly unstable Russia is the top priority of the summit. President Biden has vowed to defend every inch of NATO’s territory. The leaders also plan to unveil a reform path for Ukraine to join NATO in the future. However, there are concerns about initiating the accession process while Ukraine is actively engaged in a war with Russia. The fear is that Ukraine’s membership could directly involve the U.S. and other NATO allies in the conflict. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy expressed frustration over the reluctance of Western partners to establish a clear timetable for Ukrainian membership. He criticized the “strange wording” and “conditions” that may be imposed on Ukraine, suggesting that negotiations with Russia may influence the decision-making process.
During the summit, Ukrainian representation will be present, but the issue of membership is not expected to be resolved immediately. The focus is on democratic and security reforms that need to be implemented by Ukraine. It is not surprising that Russia views Ukraine’s future membership as a threat and has warned of a potential reaction. The leaders in Vilnius recognize that Russia used Ukraine’s aspirations as a pretext for its war. CBS News’s chief White House correspondent, Nancy Cordes, covers the summit.
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