Joe Biden arrived at Stansted Airport in London on Sunday evening. Photo: Reuters
Ukraine is not ready for NATO membership, Joe Biden warned.
Speaking before leaving for the UK ahead of the NATO summit in Lithuania this week, the US president said the war with Russia must end before the alliance can consider adding Kiev to its ranks.
“I don't think it's ready for NATO membership,” he told CNN. “I don’t think that there is unanimity in NATO on whether to include Ukraine in the NATO family now, at this moment, in the midst of the war.
“I think it’s premature to say … calling for a vote is also other requirements that need to be met, including democratization and some of these issues.”
Jane Hartley, US Ambassador to the UK, welcomed President Joe Biden at Stansted Airport Photo: Reuters
Mr Biden said he spoke at length with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on the issue and pledged that the US would continue to provide security and weapons Ukraine, as they did for Israel, while the process is ongoing.
“I think we should pave a rational path for Ukraine to be able to qualify for NATO membership,” he added.
He said Ukraine would join the alliance in the long term, adding: “NATO is an open door policy – we are not going to close anyone.”
Ukraine pod, 07.07.2023
Ukraine’s NATO membership is expected to figure in negotiations between Mr. Biden and Rishi Sunak, as well as at the summit .
NATO has been seeking Ukraine's membership since 2008, but disagreements remain over how quickly this can be achieved. Germany, like Biden, has doubts about accelerated membership, while Britain insists on early membership.
Mr Zelensky said he does not expect Ukraine to actually join NATO until the end of the war. but hopes the summit will send a “clear signal” of intention to bring Ukraine into the alliance.
Joe Biden to visit King Charles
The US president landed at Stansted Airport, where he was greeted Sunday evening by Jane Hartley, the US ambassador to the UK.
After spending the night in London, he will meet Mr. Sunak at number 10 on Monday and then travel to Windsor Castle to visit King Charles. Talks with the monarch are expected to include climate initiatives.
Mr. Biden will travel to Vilnius, Lithuania, on Monday evening to hold talks with NATO leaders on Tuesday and Wednesday.
He will deliver a speech at Vilnius University on Wednesday evening. Jake Sullivan, the White House National Security Adviser, told reporters that the speech will reflect Mr. Biden's vision of “a strong, confident America, surrounded by strong, confident allies and partners facing the great challenges of our time, from Russian aggression in Ukraine before the climate crisis.”
One of Mr. Biden's goals on the trip is to show Americans the importance of continued support for Ukraine as he faces re-election. Some of his Republican rivals have expressed doubts about his strategy.
Americans overwhelmingly support providing weapons to Ukraine and believe that such assistance demonstrates to China and other US rivals a desire to protect American and allied interests, according to a Reuters/Ipsos poll at the end of last month.
The President's last stop will be in Helsinki for talks with the leaders of Finland, a new member of NATO, and for a US-Nordic summit.
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