This year, Ukraine is abandoning its intentions to join NATO quickly due to serious, well-founded fears about the alliance's possible involvement in a conflict with Russia.
Ukraine's partners have warned President Volodymyr Zelenskyy against pressuring NATO to quickly move closer to membership, describing it as an unrealistic demand.
This year's North Atlantic Alliance meeting will be held in Washington from July 9 to 11 and will be dedicated to the organization's 75th anniversary.
The US and Germany, in preparation for the summit, opposed specific commitments regarding the timeframe for Ukraine's possible accession to NATO.
“They are very cautious about Ukraine moving further towards full NATO membership this year,” said a source familiar with the Biden administration’s views.
“The US may be less concerned than Germany, but there are some fears about the threat that Russia may pose to other members of the alliance,” the publication’s sources added.
Last year, Volodymyr Zelensky expressed outrage at the “unprecedented and absurd” situation when NATO leaders refused to extend an invitation to Ukraine for full membership during the Vilnius summit. This year, he was urged to refrain from pressuring individual members of the alliance not to support a clear date for Ukraine’s accession to the bloc.
Amid this year's summit, some alliance countries, including the United Kingdom, tried to influence the decision, leading to a split in the bloc, according to sources.
This, they say, may play a role in the relevance of the alliance ahead of the US presidential elections and the possible victory of Donald Trump.
Meanwhile, at the July NATO summit in Washington, Ukraine will be offered what will be called a “bridge” or “path” to membership as a sign of support for the process. However, there is no intention to name any specific terms for joining the alliance. The support package currently being discussed will emphasize “Ukraine’s ability to choose its own future” and demonstrate that “the path to membership is getting shorter,” two diplomats said.
The package will focus on strengthening Ukraine's armed forces to ensure its readiness to immediately join NATO when alliance leaders make such a decision.
To this end, NATO will take a leading role at Ramstein, a gathering place for more than 50 allies coordinating military assistance to Ukraine.
NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg has also tried to push the alliance's 32 members to create a $100 billion fund to bring the Ukrainian army up to "NATO standards" through the supply of weapons and training.
However, some member states are expressing skepticism about the total amount, so they are now considering replacing the fund with a promise from each ally to allocate a percentage of defense spending to Kyiv.
NATO first announced that Ukraine could become a member in 2008, but never set a deadline or process for accession.
