U.S. President Joe Biden stated that Ukraine, which is at war with Russia, is not yet ready to join the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky also confirmed that after the war with Russia, Ukraine will pursue membership in the European Union (EU) and NATO.
President Biden, in an interview with CNN released on the 9th (local time) just days before the NATO summit, said, "I don't think Ukraine is ready to join NATO." He added, "There is no unanimous agreement within NATO on whether to admit a country that is currently at war," and "it is premature to demand a vote on (Ukraine's NATO membership)."
President Biden explained that admitting Ukraine, which is at war, into NATO could lead to NATO engaging in a direct war with Russia under the defense treaty. He also said, "There will be other qualifications to meet, including democratization," and "I believe we need to present a reasonable path for Ukraine to qualify for NATO membership."
These remarks were made public just days before the NATO summit scheduled for the 11th and 12th in Vilnius, Lithuania. The summit is expected to discuss key issues such as the NATO membership of Sweden and Ukraine, as well as additional support measures for the war in Ukraine. Last month, when asked whether the U.S. would ease NATO membership barriers for Ukraine, President Biden responded, "No. Ukraine must meet the same standards, and I will not make those standards easier."
President Zelensky, who has actively expressed his intention for Ukraine to join NATO, also stated in an interview with ABC on the same day that Ukraine will pursue EU and NATO membership once the war ends. He said, "We have already established our place in the world. Now we are a respected country, and everyone knows that we truly fight for human values, human rights, freedom, and democracy," adding, "I believe Ukraine will become a valuable partner of NATO countries, possessing one of the strongest military forces in Europe." He also emphasized, "It will take some time, but once the war ends, we will make the necessary legal framework changes to become an EU member state."
In the interview, President Biden also confirmed that he warned Chinese President Xi Jinping about being too close to Russia. He added, "He (President Xi) did not argue," and "He did not fully side with Russia," describing the atmosphere at the time.
Regarding the recent U.S. decision to provide cluster munitions, a type of indiscriminate weapon, to Ukraine, President Biden defended his decision. He said, "It was a difficult decision," but explained that they had to choose between supplying weapons or leaving Ukraine defenseless due to running out of ammunition. The U.S. reportedly decided to provide cluster munitions because it takes time to increase production of 155mm artillery shells. However, opposition has arisen not only from allied countries such as the United Kingdom and Canada but also within U.S. political circles, with bipartisan debates over the provision of cluster munitions. Opponents cite concerns over civilian casualties and refer to the United Nations Convention on Cluster Munitions, which bans the use, production, and transfer of cluster bombs, warning of a potential loss of "moral high ground."
Additionally, President Biden expressed optimism that Sweden's NATO membership is approaching despite Turkey's opposition. Earlier this month, President Biden met with Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson at the White House and reaffirmed support for Sweden's NATO membership. Unanimous approval from all member states is required for NATO membership. Sweden, which has traditionally maintained military neutrality, had cooperated with NATO only as a "partner for peace" without joining. However, following Russia's invasion of Ukraine in February last year, Sweden abandoned its neutrality and applied for NATO membership alongside Finland.
Regarding concerns about his potential re-election bid due to his age of 80 this year, President Biden also revealed his thoughts. In response to calls from some quarters for him to forgo re-election, he said, "It's neither right nor wrong." However, he mentioned a positive aspect of aging, saying, "What comes with age, if you have lived your life diligently, is a bit of wisdom." He added, "I just want to get my work done. I believe I can do that within the next six years."
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