The President of the United States, Joe Biden, recently told CNN that Ukraine is not ready yet to join NATO. The head of state cited Russia’s war and its invasion of Ukrainian territory as the main reason for NATO declining the Eastern European country’s addition to the agency.
According to CNN’s Fareed Zakaria, the American president discussed Ukraine’s membership earlier than expected and gave a definite answer too soon. However, he still insisted that the United States would continue to provide President Volodymyr Zelensky and the Ukrainian military forces with arms and security against Russia.
Biden, who has now started a trip to Europe, will be heading to the NATO summit in Vilnius, Lithuania. During the meeting, the most important issues to be discussed are going to be Ukraine’s potential join to NATO, which does not seem to be very likely, and Russia’s war in the same country. About the improbable membership, Joe Biden said:
“I don’t think there is unanimity in NATO about whether or not to bring Ukraine into the NATO family now, at this moment, in the middle of a war. For example, if you did that, then, you know, and I mean what I say, we’re determined to commit every inch of territory that is NATO territory. It’s a commitment that we’ve all made no matter what. If the war is going on, then we’re all at war. We’re at war with Russia, if that were the case.”
Reportedly, the American politician has said he has previously discussed the issue with Zelensky. He stated that the United States would still support Ukraine in terms of security and arms. The option to add European nation to NATO remains open, but it will not take place as long as the war is still happening.