The United States and its NATO allies have reached an agreement to affirm Ukraine’s “irreversible” path to NATO membership at the upcoming summit in Washington. While Ukraine’s NATO membership is not yet certain, the strengthened language in the summit document indicates progress towards this goal.
Previously, there was skepticism about Ukraine’s readiness to join NATO, but more American and European officials now believe that Ukraine could eventually become a member of the alliance.
The summit communiqué, to be released during the summit, does not provide a specific timeline for Ukraine’s membership but emphasizes the importance of Ukraine demonstrating effective governance, tackling corruption, and upholding democratic principles – prerequisites expected of all NATO members.
Ukrainian officials have been advocating for language in the document that reflects Ukraine’s path to NATO membership as “irreversible,” a stance that is likely to be well-received.
With the upcoming elections in the United States adding urgency, negotiations are underway to solidify commitments to Ukraine amid the ongoing conflict with Russia. It is crucial for the 32 member nations to use strong language in support of Ukraine’s NATO aspirations during the summit, even though immediate membership may be impacted by the current war.
