NATO declares Ukraine on ‘irreversible’ path to membership

Ukraine is on an “irreversible” path to NATO membership, the 32 members of the alliance affirmed in a joint communique released Wednesday on the second day of the summit being held in Washington. 

Allies had negotiated for months over what language would be published in the joint communique, but discussions on specific words — including “irreversible” — had continued in D.C. throughout the first days of the summit.

The word choice is meant to serve as a signal of NATO’s commitment to support Ukraine in its defensive war against Russia and warn Russian President Vladimir Putin against taking action against the alliance. 

“This will not make NATO a party to the conflict, but it will help Ukraine uphold its right to self defense,” NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said in a press conference following the release of the declaration.

The alliance took a number of steps in the communique to take over coordinating support for Ukraine, an effort viewed as “Trump proofing” the alliance’s support for Kyiv, over concern that former President Trump could hold back or frustrate support for Ukraine if he wins in the November election. 

This includes appointing a three-star general to head a coordination and provision of international security assistance, an effort currently led by the U.S. NATO will also train Ukrainian forces and manage the transfer and repair of military equipment. 

Ukraine had expected that it would not receive a formal invitation to join NATO at the summit this year, with allies recognizing that Kyiv cannot join the alliance while it is still in active combat, and that bureaucratic reforms and combating corruption still need to take place to bring the country in line with standards of the alliance.

“As Ukraine continues its vital reforms, we’ll continue to support them on an irreversible path to NATO membership. The work we’re doing together now will ensure that when the time is right, Ukraine can join without delay, not a question of if, but when,” Stoltenberg said.  

Stoltenberg also pointed out the communique’s language on China, warning Beijing that it “cannot enable the largest conflict in Europe without negatively impacting its interests and reputation.”

“This is the first time all NATO allies state this so clearly, in an agreed document,” the secretary-general continued. “It puts the focus on China as an important neighbor of Russia’s war … Of course at the end of the day it will be for individual allies to make decisions, but I think the message from NATO sent from this summit is very strong and very clear.”