International NATO: Ukraine cannot be stopped on its way into the alliance
NATO assures Ukraine, which has been attacked by Russia, that it can no longer be stopped on its way into the defense alliance. In the text for the final declaration of the NATO summit in Washington, the path to membership is described as "irreversible", as the German Press Agency learned after negotiations on the document were concluded.
10.07.2024, 16:39
SDA
At the same time, the text emphasizes once again that a formal invitation to join can only be issued once all allies have agreed and all admission conditions have been met. These include reforms in the areas of democracy, the economy and the security sector.
Accession prospects remain a contentious issue
The text is a compromise that reflects the different positions in the Alliance on the NATO accession process. The NATO perspective for Ukraine has long been a contentious issue within the Alliance. Countries such as Germany and the USA refuse to issue a formal invitation to join in the current situation. The main reason for this is the concern that such a step could lead to a further escalation of the war in Ukraine.
On the other hand, there are numerous other allies who argue that Russia should be clearly shown that it will not be able to prevent Ukraine from joining NATO. In this logic, there is hope that inviting Ukraine into NATO could even lead to a quicker end to the war.
The German-American position is problematic for Ukraine above all because it could be an argument for Moscow against entering into negotiations. One of Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin's declared war aims is to prevent the neighboring state from joining NATO.
The NATO states had actually already reached an agreement in principle on the admission of Ukraine in 2008. At that time, it was agreed at a summit in Bucharest that Ukraine would become a member of NATO - albeit without any timetable.
At least 40 billion euros in military aid
The text of the final declaration also assures Ukraine that it will again receive military aid worth at least 40 billion euros within the next year. This is the amount that has also been mobilized in recent years.
The pledge falls well short of what outgoing NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg had originally demanded. Stoltenberg wanted a multi-year commitment to show Putin that he could not rely on the West's diminishing commitment. However, the USA, among others, did not want to make a long-term commitment.
The summit declaration was to be published after the working session of the heads of state and government on Wednesday evening German time. A meeting of the so-called NATO-Ukraine Council with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyi is also planned for this Thursday at the end of the summit.
