NATO members have committed to supporting Ukraine’s “irreversible path” to future membership, as well as providing more aid. While no formal timetable for Ukraine joining the military alliance was agreed at a summit in Washington DC, the 32-member alliance said it had “unwavering support” for Ukraine’s war effort.
NATO also announced further integration with Ukraine’s military and its members have committed to providing €40 billion (regarding $43.3 billion or £33.7 billion) in aid next year, including F-16 fighter jets and air defence support.
NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said: “Support for Ukraine is not charity—it is in our own security interests.”
The ongoing invasion of Ukraine was high on the agenda at the NATO summit, and a declaration agreed by all members stated that Russia “remains the most significant and immediate threat” to security.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken confirmed that US-made F-16 fighter jets were being transferred to Ukraine from Denmark and the Netherlands. It would be the first time Ukraine has received the advanced aircraft, something Kyiv has long requested. Blinken told the summit the aircraft would be deployed “this summer”.
NATO members have agreed to establish a new unit to coordinate military assistance and training for Ukraine’s armed forces as part of steps designed to deepen ties between the alliance and Ukraine. The joint statement said the steps, combined with assistance commitments from individual members, “constitute a bridge to Ukraine’s membership in NATO.”
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The statement also noted that Ukraine had made “concrete progress” in “democratic, economic and security reforms” in recent months—but that a formal invitation to membership would only be issued when “conditions are met.”
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky was invited to the summit and held meetings with world leaders, including his first with Sir Keir Starmer since he became British Prime Minister. Sir Keir told Zelensky there would be “no change in support” for Ukraine’s war effort despite the new government in London.
Zelensky also met with U.S. politicians from both parties, Democrats and Republicans, in an effort to strengthen cross-party support for Ukraine following tensions in Congress earlier this year led to the delay of a major military aid package for several months.
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NATO leaders had hoped this week’s summit would provide an opportunity to demonstrate unity on Ukraine following Russia’s modest advances on the battlefield in recent months. But there may be some disappointment in Kyiv that there is no clear public indication of how long it will take for Ukraine to be offered full membership.
The summit—which marks the 75th anniversary of the alliance’s founding—comes months before a US presidential election that might see Donald Trump, a NATO critic, return to the White House.
Responding to questions from the BBC, Stoltenberg declined to comment on whether US domestic politics might affect the alliance.
Also read: NATO Supports Ukrainian Independence, Russia Bombs Kiev
“NATO is the most successful alliance in history because we have been able to stay out of domestic political debates. It is important for me to continue to do what I can to ensure that continues to be the case,” Stoltenberg said.
US President Joe Biden used the summit to reiterate his support for Ukraine and call for more defense investment from other members that are lagging in spending. He said Russia was at “warfare” in defense production with support from Russia, North Korea and Iran — and leaders “must not let the alliance fall behind.”
“We can and will defend every inch of NATO territory,” the president added. (BBC/Z-3)
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