NATO: Ukraine’s Membership Possible When Conditions Met

NATO Expresses Support for Ukraine’s Membership

In an exciting development, NATO members have issued a statement affirming their support for Ukraine’s membership in the alliance. The Vilnius Summit Communique, available in pdf format, declares that “Ukraine’s future is in NATO.”

The highly anticipated summit, taking place in Vilnius from July 11-12, has brought together leaders from all 31 NATO member countries to address critical global security challenges, including the ongoing war in Ukraine.

Commitment to Reform and Progress

The alliance has reaffirmed its commitment, initially made at the 2008 Bucharest Summit, and acknowledged the significant progress Ukraine has made on its reform path.

Notably, NATO has replaced the requirement for Ukraine to implement a “Membership Action Plan” with an “Annual National Program” that will regularly review the country’s progress. This change reflects the alliance’s dedication to assisting Ukraine in implementing further democratic and security reforms necessary for its eventual membership.

Invitation and Conditions

The member nations have stated that they will extend an invitation to Ukraine to join the alliance when the conditions are met and agreed upon by all allies. Latvia’s Prime Minister Krišjānis Kariņš expressed confidence that Ukraine will become a member after the war.

However, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy expressed disappointment with the decision, emphasizing the need for a clear timetable for Ukraine’s NATO membership. He took to Twitter to voice his concerns, stating that it is unprecedented and absurd to not set a timeframe while adding vague conditions for the invitation.

President Biden’s Perspective

Before attending the summit, President Joe Biden shared his perspective on the matter. He believes that the war with Russia must come to an end before NATO can admit Ukraine into the alliance. President Biden highlighted the lack of unanimity within NATO regarding Ukraine’s immediate membership during an interview with CNN.