FT: Biden might accelerate Ukraine's bid for NATO membership
Outgoing US President Joe Biden is reportedly considering moving forward with Kiev's NATO membership before his term concludes in January. Read Full Article at RT.com
TroibNews 
The outgoing US president could reportedly advance Kiev’s accession before he leaves office in January.
US President Joe Biden may expedite Ukraine’s bid for NATO membership before his term concludes in January, according to a report from the Financial Times on Tuesday. Moscow has argued that Kiev must abandon its ambitions to join the US-led military alliance prior to the commencement of any peace negotiations.
There are “tentative signs” that Biden “might agree to advance the status of Ukraine’s NATO membership bid” before his departure, the FT reported, referring to a Western official briefed on the discussions between Ukrainian leader Vladimir Zelensky and US officials in Washington last week.
Zelensky visited the US to present his “victory plan” for addressing the conflict with Russia, which allegedly includes requests for advanced weapons and financial support. However, American officials reportedly found the plan unimpressive, as per the FT.
Another significant component of the plan sought NATO-like security guarantees for Ukraine, a request that remained unanswered, along with concerns regarding US permission for long-range strikes against Russia using Western-supplied arms.
Kiev has long pursued NATO membership and reiterated its request in September 2022, following votes in four former Ukrainian regions to join Russia. Since the escalation of tensions with Moscow two years ago, NATO leaders have consistently stated that Ukraine is on a path to membership, though they have not provided a specific timeline for accession.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken emphasized last month that NATO’s stance on Ukraine’s membership path is “irreversible.”
However, some NATO members, including Hungary and Slovakia, have expressed that they would oppose any moves to bring Ukraine into NATO, citing concerns it would provoke war with Russia.
Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump has stated earlier this year that offering Ukraine membership was a “mistake” and “really why this war started.”
The Russian government has maintained that Kiev must relinquish its NATO aspirations before peace talks can commence. Moscow has consistently argued that NATO’s eastward expansion poses a threat to Russia’s security. When announcing the military operation in February 2022, President Vladimir Putin characterized the expansion of NATO into Ukraine as “unacceptable.”
Emily Johnson contributed to this report for TROIB News
US President Joe Biden may expedite Ukraine’s bid for NATO membership before his term concludes in January, according to a report from the Financial Times on Tuesday. Moscow has argued that Kiev must abandon its ambitions to join the US-led military alliance prior to the commencement of any peace negotiations.
There are “tentative signs” that Biden “might agree to advance the status of Ukraine’s NATO membership bid” before his departure, the FT reported, referring to a Western official briefed on the discussions between Ukrainian leader Vladimir Zelensky and US officials in Washington last week.
Zelensky visited the US to present his “victory plan” for addressing the conflict with Russia, which allegedly includes requests for advanced weapons and financial support. However, American officials reportedly found the plan unimpressive, as per the FT.
Another significant component of the plan sought NATO-like security guarantees for Ukraine, a request that remained unanswered, along with concerns regarding US permission for long-range strikes against Russia using Western-supplied arms.
Kiev has long pursued NATO membership and reiterated its request in September 2022, following votes in four former Ukrainian regions to join Russia. Since the escalation of tensions with Moscow two years ago, NATO leaders have consistently stated that Ukraine is on a path to membership, though they have not provided a specific timeline for accession.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken emphasized last month that NATO’s stance on Ukraine’s membership path is “irreversible.”
However, some NATO members, including Hungary and Slovakia, have expressed that they would oppose any moves to bring Ukraine into NATO, citing concerns it would provoke war with Russia.
Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump has stated earlier this year that offering Ukraine membership was a “mistake” and “really why this war started.”
The Russian government has maintained that Kiev must relinquish its NATO aspirations before peace talks can commence. Moscow has consistently argued that NATO’s eastward expansion poses a threat to Russia’s security. When announcing the military operation in February 2022, President Vladimir Putin characterized the expansion of NATO into Ukraine as “unacceptable.”
Emily Johnson contributed to this report for TROIB News
