NATO members have committed to supporting Ukraine on an “irreversible path” to future membership, alongside substantial aid commitments. While no formal timeline for Ukraine’s accession was established at the recent summit in Washington DC, the alliance’s 32 members reaffirmed their “unwavering” support for Ukraine’s defense against Russian aggression.
The summit saw NATO announce enhanced integration with Ukraine’s military, with members committing €40 billion ($43.3 billion, £33.7 billion) in aid over the next year. This includes the provision of F-16 fighter jets and air defense support. NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg emphasized that supporting Ukraine is in the alliance’s security interests, not merely an act of charity.
Russia’s ongoing invasion of Ukraine dominated the summit’s agenda, with a joint declaration identifying Russia as the “most significant and direct threat” to security. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken confirmed that US-built F-16 jets would be transferred to Ukraine from Denmark and the Netherlands, marking the first time Ukraine will receive these advanced aircraft.
In addition to military aid, NATO members agreed to establish a new unit to coordinate aid and training for the Ukrainian army, further strengthening ties between the alliance and Ukraine. The joint statement highlighted Ukraine’s “concrete progress” on necessary democratic, economic, and security reforms, while indicating that a formal membership invitation would be extended once all conditions are met.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky attended the summit, meeting with global leaders, including UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, who assured continued support for Ukraine. Zelensky also engaged with US politicians from both parties to secure bipartisan support for Ukraine after recent congressional delays in military aid.
Despite the summit’s successes, there was some disappointment in Kyiv over the lack of a clear timeline for NATO membership. The summit, marking NATO’s 75th anniversary, also occurred amidst political uncertainties in the US, with potential implications for the alliance’s future direction.
President Joe Biden used the summit to reaffirm US support for Ukraine and called for increased defense investment from other NATO members. He emphasized the importance of matching Russia’s wartime production capabilities, warning that the alliance must not fall behind in defense preparedness.
In response to concerns about the impact of US domestic politics on NATO, Stoltenberg reiterated the alliance’s commitment to staying above national political debates, emphasizing NATO’s historical success in maintaining this stance.
