Strained Dynamic Between NATO and Ukraine Evident in Aid Clash

NATO and Ukraine experienced their first public clash this week.

During a gathering of all 31 NATO members in Vilnius, Lithuania, there were evident tensions between Kyiv and the military alliance. Ukrainian leader Volodomyr Zelenskyy went as far as calling the absence of a timeline for his country’s NATO membership “absurd” on Tuesday.

A senior diplomat present at the meetings revealed to CNBC on Thursday that Zelenskyy had “overplayed” his hand during the summit and was subsequently pressured by the United States and other NATO members to show more gratitude.

“The U.S. side clearly conveyed the message that Ukraine had gone too far,” said the anonymous senior diplomat who attended the meetings in Lithuania.

These comments shed light on the power dynamics within NATO. While some members were eager to support Ukraine’s request, the United States, in particular, is not currently in favor of immediate NATO membership for Kyiv.

“The summit outcome reflects the reality that NATO, as the strongest military power in the world, is committed to defending eligible countries. Therefore, NATO will always move at the pace of Washington, which is currently focused on long-term concerns regarding China,” explained Jacob Kirkegaard, a senior fellow at the German Marshall Fund of the United States.

“The U.S. will therefore not allow a country at war to join NATO and provide them with a firm timeline commitment,” Kirkegaard added. Ukraine has been battling Russia’s full-scale invasion since February 2022.

During a NATO public forum on Wednesday, U.S. National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan stated that the American people deserved gratitude for their support, in response to criticism from a Ukrainian activist regarding the lack of a specific timeline for Kyiv’s NATO membership.

U.K. Defense Minister Ben Wallace also commented on the matter, saying, “I am not Amazon,” in reference to delivering weapons to Kyiv. He added, “Whether we like it or not, people want to see gratitude.” However, British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak quickly distanced himself from Wallace’s remarks.

Public opinion across the European Union remains supportive of Ukraine, although there has been a decline in support for certain measures. The number of citizens in favor of sending weapons or imposing economic sanctions on Russia has actually decreased during the first year of the war.

“The fact remains that time is not on our side. The longer this conflict continues, the more challenging it becomes to secure funding. This is an undeniable reality,” stated Maria Demertzis, a senior fellow at the Bruegel think tank.

During a joint press statement on Wednesday, U.S. President Joe Biden reassured Zelenskyy, saying, “I understand your frustration with the pace at which things reach you and with what you receive. But I can assure you, the United States is doing everything possible to provide you with what you need as quickly as possible.”

Biden also expressed his anticipation for the day when Ukraine officially becomes a member of NATO, adding, “We look forward to celebrating that moment with you.”

The 31 NATO members did not set a specific date for Ukraine’s membership. Instead, they acknowledged that Ukraine has become more compatible and politically integrated with the alliance and stated that they would extend an invitation “when allies agree and conditions are met.”

Ultimately, Ukraine cannot become a NATO member as long as the war continues.

“The key thing is that we, the West, have to maintain a delicate balance. We cannot afford to be in a state of war ourselves,” reiterated the senior diplomat.

In an interview with the Financial Times, Finland’s Foreign Minister Elina Valtonen acknowledged that even if NATO were to provide a clear path to membership for Kyiv, it would not guarantee immediate accession. Finland, NATO’s newest member, joined in early April.

However, Valtonen dismissed claims that Ukraine has not shown gratitude, arguing that aid should not be perceived as charity.

Regardless, Zelenskyy seemed to have taken the criticism to heart. He expressed repeated appreciation in his public remarks following Tuesday’s speech. Upon returning to Ukraine from the NATO summit, he tweeted, “I am grateful to all those who have worked for unity in Vilnius.”