Ukraine departs NATO Summit with security assurances, yet no membership path.

A Promising Outcome for Ukraine at NATO Summit

A day after criticizing NATO leaders for their lack of clarity on Ukraine’s entry into the alliance, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy had a more positive outlook as the NATO summit in Lithuania came to a close.

While Ukraine’s request to join NATO was not advanced, Zelenskyy did secure significant security guarantees from the Group of Seven (G7) nations and a seat at the newly formed NATO-Ukraine Council.

“The Ukrainian delegation is bringing home a significant security victory for Ukraine, for our country, for our people, for our children,” Zelenskyy announced during a press conference with President Joe Biden and Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, where they introduced a Joint Declaration on Support for Ukraine signed by all G7 leaders.

“The outcome of the NATO Summit in Vilnius is a much-needed and meaningful success for Ukraine,” Zelenskyy expressed his gratitude at the Lithuanian Exhibition and Congress Centre in Vilnius.

“And I am grateful to all leaders in NATO countries for their practical and unprecedented support throughout our relations with Ukraine.”

“Today, the members of the G7 are launching a Joint Declaration of Support for Ukraine to make it clear that our support will last long into the future,” President Biden stated. “This starts a process by which each of our nations and any other nation who wishes to participate will negotiate long-term bilateral security commitments with and to Ukraine.”

The G7 is an intergovernmental political forum consisting of Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom, and the United States.

In the 820-word declaration, the seven leaders “reaffirm our unwavering commitment to the strategic objective of a free, independent, democratic, and sovereign Ukraine, within its internationally recognized borders, capable of defending itself and deterring future aggression,” emphasizing Ukraine’s security as “integral to the security of the Euro-Atlantic region.”

The declaration outlines the start of “negotiations with Ukraine to formalize—through bilateral security commitments and arrangements aligned with this multilateral framework … our enduring support to Ukraine as it defends its sovereignty and territorial integrity, rebuilds its economy, protects its citizens, and pursues integration into the Euro-Atlantic community.

“We will direct our teams to begin these discussions immediately.”

The declaration describes the provisions G7 nations will offer and the responsibilities Ukraine assumes in accepting the assistance as it “pursues a pathway toward future membership in the Euro-Atlantic community.”

A key passage reads: “In the event of future Russian armed attack, we intend to immediately consult with Ukraine to determine appropriate next steps.

“We intend, in accordance with our respective legal and constitutional requirements, to provide Ukraine with swift and sustained security assistance, modern military equipment across land, sea, and air domains, and economic assistance, to impose economic and other costs on Russia, and to consult with Ukraine on its needs as it exercises its right of self-defense enshrined in Article 51 of the UN Charter.

“To this end, we will work with Ukraine on an enhanced package of security commitments and arrangements in case of future aggression to enable Ukraine to defend its territory and sovereignty.”

Japan Led The Way

“We’re going to help Ukraine build a strong, capable defense across land, air, and sea … it will be a force of stability in the region and deter any and all threats,” President Biden praised Prime Minister Kishida and Japanese government officials for spearheading the declaration.

“You know,” he continued, “I think there are very few people in Europe, or in the continental United States, in the North American continent, that thought this man [Kishida] would stand up and come to the aid and assistance of Ukraine.”

President Biden highlighted Japan’s increased military budget and enhanced coordination with nations that uphold the rule-based international order under Prime Minister Kishida’s leadership, recognizing the global impact of Russian aggression.

Prime Minister Kishida mentioned that the foundation for the declaration was laid during the G7 Hiroshima Summit in May, which included a wide range of invited countries.

“We agreed that unilateral attempts to change the status quo by force or coercion are unacceptable anywhere in the world and to safeguard a free and open international order based on the rule of law.”