‘Ukraine’s Future Is in NATO, Our Goal Now Is to Create a Bridge to Ukraine’s Full Membership’
Blinken backs membership at anniversary ceremony
Secretary of State Antony Blinken unequivocally declared that Ukraine will join NATO, and the Biden administration’s goal now is to “create a bridge to Ukraine’s full membership” in the security alliance.
Blinken made his statement Thursday at two days of talks in Brussels, which included the observance of the 75th anniversary of NATO’s founding.
His declaration also came as the war in Ukraine continues to drag on as Ukrainians fight to repel Russian leader Vladimir Putin’s invasion, and as further US assistance to Ukraine continues to be delayed by political infighting.
NATO held its second NATO-Ukraine Council, the joint body where alliance members and Ukraine sit to advance political dialogue, engagement, cooperation and Ukraine’s own eventual membership in the alliance, Blinken noted.
“We discussed concrete outcomes for the upcoming Washington summit in July, including increasing our support for Ukraine, strengthening NATO’s deterrence and defense posture, in particular through boosting our defense industrial basis on both sides of the Atlantic, and deepening cooperation with partners, including from the Indo-Pacific,” he said. “We also held our second NATO-Ukraine Council. We reaffirmed that Ukraine’s future is in NATO. Our goal now is to create a bridge to Ukraine’s full membership, offering additional support, and cooperation as Ukraine makes the reforms necessary to join the alliance.“
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