Biden admitted that he did not support Ukraine’s accession to NATO, – The Time

Ukraine may not become a NATO member after the current conflict ends.

This statement was made by U.S. President Joe Biden in an interview with Time magazine.

“Peace in Ukraine looks like ensuring that Russia never occupies Ukraine. That’s what peace looks like. And that doesn’t mean NATO, that they are part of NATO. It means we have the same relationship with them as we do with other countries to whom we supply weapons so they can defend themselves in the future,” he said.

In late May, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz suggested that Ukraine might not join NATO in the next 30 years.

In March, Admiral Rob Bauer, head of NATO’s military committee, stated that the question of Ukraine’s membership in the alliance is resolved, but discussions continue about “when it will happen and what is needed for it.”

U.S. Ambassador to NATO Julianne Smith said in late April that Zelensky would be invited to the planned July summit in Washington, where Ukraine will be a key topic. However, she clarified that Ukraine’s accession to the alliance is not expected at the upcoming summit. NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg also stated that he does not expect an agreement on Ukraine’s membership at the forthcoming summit.

In late September 2022, Zelensky announced that Ukraine was applying for NATO membership in an accelerated manner. Stoltenberg has repeatedly stated that full membership for Ukraine in the alliance is impossible during an armed conflict.

Russian Presidential Press Secretary Dmitry Peskov previously noted that the Kremlin has heard Zelensky’s request for NATO membership, as well as the varied reactions to it. According to him, Moscow is closely monitoring the situation and remembers that Ukraine’s orientation towards the alliance was one of the reasons for the start of the full-scale war.