The United States and several key allies, including the UK, are actively discussing how strong Ukraine's commitment to NATO membership will be at the bloc's 75th summit in Washington.
Allies discuss Ukraine's obligations to join NATO
CNN reports, citing a number of senior sources, that the United States is facing criticism from a number of European countries for not being willing to go as far as some would like — especially those located close to the Russian border.
U.S. and German officials have suggested that during a summit next month, NATO should promise that Ukraine has a “bridge” to membership in the bloc, but this is not an “irreversible path”, as NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said in April.
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The publication writes that the final formulation that NATO will make on Ukraine during the summit in Washington is of decisive importance. It will be carefully discussed and then examined as it outlines to the world, particularly Russia, the prospects for Ukraine in NATO.
— At the summit (in Washington, — Ed.) we will take concrete steps to bring Ukraine closer to NATO and provide a bridge to membership, a strong and well-lit bridge, — US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said at a meeting of NATO foreign ministers in Prague at the end of May.
A senior US official said Biden administration officials do not believe the word “irreversible” will support the entire bloc, we are talking primarily about Hungary. The official said the US believes it is close to reaching a resolution with all NATO members on this language.
Another official told CNN that some NATO members are also reluctant to use the word because Ukraine has not yet implemented all the democratic and anti-corruption reforms required for membership in the bloc.
32 NATO member countries will gather July 9-11 in Washington. The summit is expected to focus on building defense production and achieving defense budget targets due to threats from the Russian Federation.
