BRUSSELS: NATO is close to reaching a consensus on how to address Ukraine’s aspirations for membership in the alliance at the upcoming summit, aiming to demonstrate its commitment that goes beyond previous assurances, said the US NATO envoy on Thursday.
Ukraine, supported by NATO allies in Eastern Europe, has urged for a commitment at the forthcoming summit in Lithuania to grant its membership once Russia’s conflict ends.
NATO diplomats indicate that the United States has been hesitant to go beyond the 2008 pledge made in Bucharest, which promised Ukraine’s future membership but did not specify a timeline.
The 31 NATO member countries are currently negotiating the exact wording regarding Ukraine’s potential membership for the final summit communique.
US Ambassador to NATO, Julianne Smith, stated that the final version of the communique could provide clarity on how Ukraine will eventually become a member of the alliance.
“I think most of us feel confident that we are going to be able to come to an agreement that will reflect where we are and that the Ukrainians will believe and feel is something above and beyond restating Bucharest,” she said.
Smith added that the alliance was approaching a consensus on the language but refrained from pre-empting the final phrasing.
She mentioned that allowing Ukraine to bypass the Membership Action Plan, which outlines requirements for membership, was one option being considered.
NATO Heavyweights Engage in Discussions with Ukraine
Several Western diplomats revealed that NATO heavyweights, including the United States, Britain, Germany, and France, are engaging in discussions with Ukraine on bilateral commitments regarding the supply of weapons as an interim assurance prior to membership.
Smith confirmed that Washington was in talks with Kyiv to provide long-term reassurances and support, similar to the efforts made over the past 15 months.
No indication was given on whether concrete announcements would be made prior to the Vilnius summit.
“When you take all of this together, I think it will give the Ukrainians the feeling that we’ve heard them and that we understand that they were looking for something concrete,” Smith stated.
The US envoy expects Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to attend the gathering next month, believing that his presence would send a powerful message to Russian leader Vladimir Putin.
“The signal coming out of Vilnius will be we continue to stand behind Ukraine, we stand with Ukraine, and having Zelenskyy there in person, I think, again, will be very powerful. I think it’s important for the Ukrainians, and I think it’s important for the NATO alliance.”
