Biden: Ukraine Not Yet Prepared for NATO Membership
President Biden, who is scheduled to attend a NATO summit in Europe this week, stated that it was premature to grant Ukraine membership in the alliance while the war with Russia rages on.
President Biden walking up the steps of Air Force One.
President Biden emphasized that Ukraine must meet certain criteria, including the establishment of democracy.Credit...Doug Mills/The New York Times
By Katie Rogers
Washington Correspondent
In an interview aired on Sunday, President Biden expressed his view that Ukraine is not currently ready to join NATO, and initiating the membership process in the midst of an ongoing war would be premature.
During a conversation with CNN's Fareed Zakaria, Biden indicated that there is no unanimity within NATO regarding Ukraine's immediate inclusion in the alliance. He stressed that the process could only commence once a peace agreement with Russia had been reached.
"If the war persists, then we are all at war," stated Biden, referring to NATO's commitment to collective defense. "If that were the case, we would be at war with Russia." He further added that there are additional requirements, such as the establishment of democracy, that Ukraine must fulfill to be considered for membership.
President Biden embarked on a trip to Europe on Sunday, which includes participation in a NATO summit in Lithuania. The focus of the summit will be Russia's conflict in Ukraine, as well as the recent decision by the United States to supply Kyiv with weapons that are banned by most NATO allies.
During the interview, President Biden revealed that he had cautioned Chinese President Xi Jinping about getting too close to Russia. He mentioned that after President Xi met with Russian President Vladimir V. Putin in March, he personally spoke with President Xi and reminded him that numerous American corporations had withdrawn from Russia since the onset of the war.
"He did not dispute it," Biden disclosed. "And if you notice, he has not gone full-bore on Russia."
President Biden also defended his decision to provide Ukraine with cluster munitions, despite them being prohibited by many close American allies. He acknowledged that it was a challenging choice, but with artillery supplies running low, the options were either to supply the weapons or leave Ukraine defenseless.
"It was a very difficult decision on my part — and by the way, I discussed this with our allies, I discussed this with our friends up on the Hill," Biden asserted. "The Ukrainians are running out of ammunition."
Another topic to be discussed at the NATO summit is Sweden's interest in joining the alliance. President Biden, who met with the Swedish prime minister last week, expressed optimism about Sweden's proximity to becoming a member, despite opposition from Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. (However, President Erdogan does support Ukraine's admission, stating on Saturday alongside Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky that "Ukraine deserves NATO membership without a doubt.")
In a conversation with President Erdogan on Sunday, President Biden conveyed his desire to welcome Sweden into NATO as soon as possible, as stated in the White House's summary of the call. The leaders also affirmed their shared commitment to continue supporting Ukraine.
During the interview, President Biden, who is 80 years old and running for re-election, addressed concerns about his age.
"I believe that we are orchestrating global efforts in a manner that will significantly enhance security for people," expressed Biden. "I simply want to finish the job, and I believe we can accomplish that within the next six years."
Contributing reporting from Istanbul: Safak Timur.
Katie Rogers is a White House correspondent covering life in the Biden administration, Washington culture, and domestic policy. She joined The New York Times in 2014. Read more about Katie Rogers.
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