Ukraine's path to NATO membership appears increasingly certain as the Atlantic Alliance, at its 75th summit in Washington, strengthens its commitment to President Volodymyr Zelensky. This comes in the wake of Russia's devastating attacks on a children's hospital in Kiev, which have drawn sharp condemnation from the international community.
At the summit, NATO is expected to use the term 'irreversible' to describe Ukraine's path towards membership, setting a definitive timeline. 'It's not a question of if but when,' stated US President Joe Biden, emphasizing the Alliance's decisive step forward. The draft declaration, to be finalized within 24 hours, states that Ukraine will become the 33rd NATO member once all democratic reforms are implemented.
The recent Russian attacks, which resulted in significant casualties and the destruction of civilian facilities, including the Okhmatdyt Children's Hospital, have underscored the urgency of Ukraine's NATO membership. Ukrainian President Zelensky has called on the international community to take a clear stance against Russia's aggression, reiterating Ukraine's determination to retaliate.
Western leaders, including US President Joe Biden and Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas, have condemned the attacks. The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk, also denounced the missile strike on the children's hospital, calling it 'abhorrent' and urging immediate action to stop such attacks.
The NATO summit in Washington is also expected to announce new US military aid for Ukraine, potentially including Patriot missiles and F16 fighter jets. Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg has condemned the recent Russian attacks and emphasized the Alliance's commitment to strengthening support for Kiev. Additional measures include the creation of a NATO command in Wiesbaden, Germany, to coordinate aid, training, and logistics for Ukraine.
To ensure continuous support for Ukraine, the summit aims to finalize the creation of a fund for financial aid and the transfer of the Contact Group's coordination to NATO headquarters in Brussels. General Christopher Cavoli, head of the Supreme Command of the Allied Powers in Europe, will be given more powers to oversee these efforts.
Given the potential for changes in the US administration, Stoltenberg announced that allies would pledge to increase their defense investments. Currently, over 23 countries spend 2% of their GDP on defense, a significant increase from just nine countries when Biden took office. 'NATO's main objective is peace, the prevention of war through deterrence,' Stoltenberg emphasized, highlighting the importance of defense investments.
- The recent Russian attacks have intensified Ukraine's urgency to join NATO, a long-held aspiration that has become more pressing since Russia's annexation of Crimea in 2014 and the ongoing conflict in Donbass. Ukraine applied for accelerated NATO membership on September 30, 2022.
- To qualify for NATO membership, Ukraine must meet specific political, military, and democratic standards, including political stability, respect for human rights, and military cooperation capabilities. However, Russia views Ukraine's NATO membership as a direct threat to its security and has set conditions for peace talks, including Ukraine's withdrawal from disputed regions and abandonment of NATO ambitions.
- Despite Russia's demands, Ukraine remains steadfast in its refusal to cede territories or abandon its NATO aspirations, viewing membership as crucial for its security and stability.
