Before the NATO summit - NATO Secretary General hopes Ukraine will join by 2034
Nato Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg hopes for Ukraine's accession to the Alliance within the next decade. "I very much hope that Ukraine will become a member," Stoltenberg replied in an interview with the German Press Agency in response to a question about possible enlargement by 2034. He has worked towards this during his tenure at Nato as well.
Stoltenberg also called for more military aid for the country attacked by Russia just before the Nato Summit in Washington. "The stronger our support, the faster this war can end. (...) The more we commit ourselves long-term, the faster the war can end," he said. "Putin believes that he can wait us out. We must convince him that he cannot wait us out, and that can then create the conditions to end the war."
At a press conference on Friday afternoon, Stoltenberg stated that the expected new aid includes the establishment of a new Nato command for coordinating weapons deliveries and training for Ukrainian forces. He also mentioned more financing, more military support, and new security agreements.
He agreed with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky that all these elements could be a bridge to the Ukraine's hoped-for Nato membership.
Nato Enlargement is a hot potato
With his statements on Nato enlargement, Stoltenberg is taking a position just before the summit next week alongside those Nato members who are pushing for significant progress in the process. Within the Alliance, this is a contentious issue.
There is still no timeline for Ukraine's accession or an official invitation. The Nato can only be in a position to issue an invitation "when the allies are in agreement and the conditions are met." Concrete examples given at the time were "additional necessary reforms in the areas of democracy and the security sector."
Scholz brakes
To make progress in the accession process, consensus among the 32 Nato members is necessary. However, this consensus is not currently possible due to countries like Germany and the US. So, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz made it clear in several questions on the topic that, in his view, the Russian aggression war must first come to an end. However, this is problematic for Ukraine, as it could be an argument against negotiations for Moscow. One of Putin's declared war goals is the prevention of a Nato membership application by the neighboring state.
Recent remarks from US President Joe Biden caused a stir. In an interview with the US magazine "Time," Biden was asked about a peace solution for the country and replied, "Peace means making sure Russia never, never, never, never occupies Ukraine." This, however, does not mean that Ukraine should be part of Nato. "It means having a relationship with them, like we have with other countries, where we provide them with weapons so they can defend themselves in the future."
To send a positive message to the people in Ukraine despite the NATO summit, it is currently being discussed in the alliance to describe the membership process of the country as irreversible - that is, not to be halted. The meeting of the heads of state and government of NATO countries is expected to welcome Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky as a guest. A session of the so-called NATO-Ukraine Council is to be organized with him.
Stoltenberg's last regular summit
For Stoltenberg, the NATO summit in Washington will be the last regular one before his departure from the military alliance. He hands over his office on October 1 to the former Dutch prime minister Mark Rutte. Regarding his designated successor, Stoltenberg told dpa that Rutte would be an excellent NATO Secretary General. Rutte had already shown in his previous position as prime minister that he could build consensus. The necessary experience and knowledge for the new task he will bring with him.
- Stoltenberg expressed his hope for Ukraine's joining of the Defense alliance within the next decade, stating, "I very much hope that Ukraine will become a member."
- The expected new aid for Ukraine, as mentioned by Stoltenberg, includes the establishment of a new NATO command for coordinating weapons deliveries and training for Ukrainian forces.
- At the Nato summit in Washington, Stoltenberg called for more military aid for Ukraine, stating, "The stronger our support, the faster this war can end."
- The German Chancellor Olaf Scholz mentioned that the Russian aggression war must first come to an end before making progress in Ukraine's accession to NATO.
- NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg agreed with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky that all the aforementioned elements could serve as a bridge to Ukraine's hoped-for NATO membership.
- The Nato Enlargement process is a contentious issue within the Alliance, with some members pushing for significant progress, while others, like Germany and the US, have not yet reached consensus.
- In an interview with "Time," US President Joe Biden stated, "Peace means making sure Russia never, never, never, never occupies Ukraine," but he did not suggest that Ukraine should become a NATO member.
- Recent discussions in the alliance suggest the possibility of describing Ukraine's membership process as irreversible before the meeting of the NATO heads of state and government, where Volodymyr Zelensky is expected to be a guest.
