Ukraine’s Possible NATO Membership and Western Commitments – Vilnius NATO Summit Highlights

2023-07-11 19:34:00

In Vilnius, the Lithuanian capital, where NATO summit, the members of the Atlantic Alliance returned this Tuesday (11.07) to the main emergencies. Starting of course with Ukraine, whose President Volodymyr Zelensky is present at this meeting. The leaders of the member countries of NATO agreed “to invite” kyiv to join the Alliance “when the conditions are met”.

The 31 leaders of NATO countries, from the opening of the summit, showed their support for kyiv, as expressed Jens Stoltenberg, Secretary General of the Alliance who has just been extended in office.

“At this meeting we will send a clear message to Ukraine that we stand by it for as long as necessary and there will also be a united and positive message on the way forward for Ukraine’s membership.” he assured.

Jens Stoltenberg, Secretary General of NATO Image: Ludovic Marin/AFP/Getty Images

Need more commitment

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky continues to demand commitments from Westerners on his country’s possible membership.

A prospect that the member countries are ready to consider: they have officially declared that the future of Ukraine lies in NATO. But membership is impossible as long as the war lasts.

Indeed, a state engaged in a conflict cannot join the Alliance since Article 5 of the NATO treaty stipulates that an attack once morest one member is an attack once morest all members. Allowing Ukraine to join would in fact be synonymous with global conflict.

The Kremlin has been warning NATO for a long time now regarding the consequences, which it qualifies as “very negative” for European security, of Ukraine’s future membership.

NATO member states intend to continue supporting KievImage: Andrew Caballero-Reynolds/Pool Photo via AP/picture alliance

A long-term program

In the meantime, kyiv can continue to count on deliveries of military equipment from countries like germanyFrance or even United States who plan to continue their support over several years, as explained by Johann Schmonsees, one of the spokespersons for the US State Department.

“With our partners, we will try to agree a multi-year program for Ukraine (…) And also for Ukraine’s military needs to defend itself. The United States hopes to strengthen political ties between the “NATO and Ukraine by establishing the NATO-Ukraine Council. And thirdly, the Allied leaders will come together on a path towards Ukraine’s membership in the NATO alliance” he explains to DW.

US President Joe Biden has always been very active regarding military assistance to kyiv but much more reserved regarding kyiv’s promises of membership in the Alliance.

Long-term arms supply commitments are being discussed between the US, UK, France and Germany.

The Vilnius summit was also marked by the very first participation of Finland, which became a member of NATO last April.

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