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Picture courtesy: (Getty) UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and US President Joe Biden, and other world leaders, promised their support for Ukraine membership at the NATO summit in Washington, DC.
(The Post News)- The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) members at the summit on July 9 in Washington, DC, had promised their support for an “irreversible path” aimed at future membership in Ukraine, including more aid.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said that the US-built F-16 jets will be moving to Ukraine from Denmark and the Netherlands to start operation in the summer. However, a formal timeline for a military alliance for Ukraine to join hasn’t been agreed upon at a summit in Washington, DC.
The advanced aircraft will be given to Ukraine for the first time since the beginning of the war, as Kyiv has been asking for them for a long time.
Russia has consistently been against the idea of Ukraine becoming a member of NATO, fearing the possibility of bringing the alliance’s forces near its borders. Despite that, NATO stated in 2008 that Ukraine could eventually become a member if it met the requirements.
The military alliance, which consists of 32 members, states that they have “unwavering” support for Ukraine’s conflicts.
NATO stated that for further integration with Ukraine’s military, its members have pledged between €40bn, including $43.3bn and £33.7bn, which will be aimed at aid in the next year, including F-16 fighter jets and air defence support.
The bloc’s Secretary-General, Jens Stoltenberg, said that the support provided to Ukraine is not charity but rather for their security interests.
Nato members who reaffirmed their support for Ukraine at the summit included UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and US President Joe Biden.
A declaration was made at the summit in which all members agreed, stating that Russia “remains the most important and direct threat” when it comes to security.
A new unit to coordinate military aid, including training for the Ukrainian army, will be set up and the main purpose will be for measures designed to deepen ties in the alliance with Ukraine.
According to the joint statement, the measures, put together with aid commitments from individual members, “initiate a bridge to Ukraine’s partnership in NATO.”
Ukraine has shown improvement on “required democratic, economic, and security reforms” in recent months, but a formal partnership invitation would only be extended when Ukraine met all the requirements.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky attended the NATO meeting, meeting the world leaders. He met Sir Keir Starmer for the first time since he was elected prime minister of the United Kingdom.
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