No timetable set for Fast-Track Ukraine Membership -NATO

NATO leaders said on Tuesday they would allow Ukraine to join the alliance “when allies agree and the conditions are met,” with President Volodymyr Zelensky calling the organization’s failure to set a timetable for his country “absurd.” “We have confirmed that Ukraine will become a member of NATO and have agreed to remove the requirement for a Fast-Track Ukraine Membership action plan,” NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg told reporters, referring to a key step in joining the alliance. “This will change Ukraine’s path to membership from a two-step path to a one-step path,” he said. Although several NATO members have provided arms and ammunition to Zelensky’s forces, there is no consensus among the 31 allies on whether Ukraine should join NATO.

The alliance’s leaders decided to remove obstacles on Ukraine’s path to membership so it can join more quickly after its war with Russia ends. It is unprecedented and absurd when no deadlines have been set either for the invitation or for Ukraine’s membership,” Zelensky tweeted as he left for the annual NATO summit in Vilnius. “While at the same time, vague wording has been added about the conditions even for inviting Ukraine. It seems there is no readiness to invite Ukraine to NATO or make it a member of the Alliance.” NATO membership would provide Ukraine with security against a giant neighbour that annexed its Crimean peninsula nearly a decade ago and more recently occupied vast swathes of land to the east and south.

Joining NATO would oblige Kiev to reform its security institutions, improve governance and curb corruption, which would also ease the country’s path to joining the EU. Asked about Zelensky’s concerns, Stoltenberg said the most important thing now was to make sure his country wins the war, because “there is no room to discuss membership until Ukraine wins.” Zelensky’s remarks could reignite tensions at the summit, which had previously been marked by an atmosphere of goodwill following Turkey’s agreement to push Sweden’s bid to join NATO.

The allies hope to settle the tumultuous negotiations and form a clear plan for the alliance and its support for Ukraine. “We value our allies,” Zelensky wrote on Twitter, adding that “Ukraine deserves respect too.” He also said: “Uncertainty is weakness. And I will discuss this openly at the summit.” Zelensky is expected to meet US President Joe Biden and other NATO leaders on Wednesday. There are sharp differences within the alliance over Ukraine’s desire to join NATO, which was promised in 2008, though little action has been taken toward that goal. In addition, the Baltic states – including Lithuania, which is hosting the summit – have pushed for a clear path toward membership for Ukraine and a strong show of support.

The United States and Germany, however, have urged caution. Biden said last week that Ukraine is not ready to join. He told CNN that NATO members “must meet all the qualifications, from democratization to a whole range of other issues,” pointing to long-standing concerns about governance and corruption in Kiev. In addition, some fear that Ukraine’s inclusion in NATO would serve as an emboldenment to Russia, rather than a deterrent against aggression. More concretely, NATO leaders decided to launch a series of multiyear programs to bring Ukraine’s Soviet-era military equipment and doctrine up to modern standards so the country can fully operate with the alliance.

On Wednesday, the leaders and Zelensky are set to launch a new, enhanced forum for their cooperation: a NATO-Ukraine Council, where all sides can hold crisis talks if their security is threatened. To move faster toward its future membership, the leaders agreed to scrap the Membership Action Plan for Ukraine, a program often seen as mandatory for aspiring countries. This action plan, known in NATO language as MAP, includes a specific package of advice, assistance and practical support for countries preparing to join NATO. For example, Bosnia is currently participating in it. Pressed by reporters to explain what kind of conditions were being placed on Ukraine’s joining, Stoltenberg said: “We want modern defense and security institutions.

He also said Kiev’s hopes could rest on strengthening its governance standards and fighting corruption. The dispute over Ukraine stands in contrast to the hard-fought agreement to pursue Sweden’s membership. The deal was reached after several days of intense meetings and is set to expand the alliance’s strength in northern Europe. “Rumors of the death of NATO unity have been greatly exaggerated,” White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan told reporters on Tuesday. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan will ask the Turkish parliament to approve Sweden’s joining NATO, according to a joint statement released when the agreement was announced.

Hungary Prime Minister Viktor Orban, another opponent, is expected to take a similar step. Hungary’s foreign minister said Tuesday that his country’s approval of Sweden’s NATO membership is now a must. There is only a “technical matter”. Erdogan has not yet commented publicly. The result is also a victory for Biden, who has pointed to NATO expansion as an example of how Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has hurt Moscow. Finland has already become the alliance’s 31st member, and Sweden is set to become the 32nd. Both Nordic countries were historically non-aligned until the war raised fears of Russian aggression.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters that NATO expansion was “one of the reasons that led to the current situation.” “It seems that the Europeans do not understand their mistake,” Peskov said. He warned against pushing Ukraine to NATO membership at a fast pace. Erdogan, however, appeared eager to develop his relationship with Biden. He said previous meetings were “only a warm-up, but now we are starting a new process.” The Turkish president is seeking an exchange of advanced US fighter jets and a path toward membership in the European Union. The White House has expressed support for both, but publicly stressed that the issues were unrelated to Sweden’s membership in NATO.