Ukraine Can't Join Nato Until War With Russia Ends - Biden

President Joe Biden in a recent CNN interview on Sunday, July 9, said Russian-Ukraine end before the latter can join NATO.

During the interview conducted by Fareed Zakaria, Biden acknowledged that there is no consensus among NATO members regarding Ukraine's admission into the military alliance.

Biden highlighted several issues related to Ukraine's eligibility for NATO membership, particularly the need for further democratization.

He emphasized the importance of establishing a clear and logical path for Ukraine to qualify for NATO membership. Biden expressed his belief that bringing Ukraine into NATO while the country is in the midst of a war lacks unanimous support within the alliance.

The President stressed that if Ukraine were to join NATO during an ongoing conflict, it would mean a commitment from all member states to defend every inch of NATO territory. This commitment is one that all member countries have made, regardless of the circumstances. Biden stated that if a war with Russia were ongoing, it would effectively mean that NATO is at war with Russia.

Despite the reservations about NATO membership, President Biden assured that the United States would continue providing aid to Ukraine as it defends itself against Russian President Vladimir Putin's invasion. The U.S. has already contributed approximately $100 billion to support Ukraine's efforts.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has been advocating for NATO membership for several months following Russia's invasion. However, such a step would require the U.S. and Western allies to fully engage in the conflict and officially declare war on Russia, a prospect that President Biden is not currently prepared for.

Additionally, President Biden has expressed support for supplying F-16 fighter jets to the Ukrainian forces. This decision would necessitate extensive training for Ukrainian pilots, a process that is already underway. While Biden had previously opposed the idea in January, he later changed his stance and called for training to commence in May.