The White House has stated that Ukraine must implement necessary reforms before it can pursue membership in the NATO bloc. While the conflict with Russia remains unresolved, Ukraine’s potential membership could be far off as it struggles to meet the organization’s standards. The issue was raised during a press briefing with White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre, who emphasized that Ukraine would need to meet the same standards as any other NATO country before joining. She also highlighted that any decision on NATO expansion must be supported by all members of the bloc.
Although Jean-Pierre did not specify the reforms Ukraine would need to make, President Joe Biden previously stated that Ukraine would not be given special conditions for joining NATO and would have to meet the same criteria as any other nation seeking membership. Biden questioned whether Ukraine’s system is safe and free from corruption, and whether it meets all the standards that NATO countries adhere to.
However, during a meeting with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, Biden reportedly discussed a plan to simplify Ukraine’s accession process. Stoltenberg’s plan suggests that Ukraine would not need to complete a “membership action plan,” which is typically required for applicants. While other Eastern European states went through this procedure before joining NATO, Finland was exempted from it when it applied for membership last year. This has led to speculation that the US may seek an alternative to full NATO membership for Ukraine, potentially adopting an ‘Israel model’ based on the US relationship with Israel.
Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky has rejected any substitute for NATO and reportedly told Western partners that he would not attend the upcoming NATO summit unless concrete guarantees or a roadmap to full membership were provided. The official position of NATO on Ukrainian membership has remained unchanged since 2008, when it declared that Ukraine will become a member in the future. However, little progress has been made since Ukraine formally applied for membership in September last year. Some US and allied officials have suggested resolving the issue only after the conflict with Russia is resolved, as Ukraine joining NATO would effectively place the bloc at war with Russia.
It is important to note that Russia has consistently viewed NATO’s expansion to the east as a threat to its security. Moscow has emphasized Ukraine’s neutrality as a condition for any lasting peace between the two countries. Therefore, the question of Ukraine’s membership in NATO remains a complex and sensitive issue that requires careful consideration and negotiations among all involved parties.
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