No NATO consensus yet on Ukraine invitation, White House official says

The US Biden administration has revealed that NATO currently lacks consensus on inviting Ukraine to join the alliance, a key point in Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s “victory plan.” This information was shared during a background press call on 17 October, ahead of President Biden’s travel to Berlin, Germany.

President Zelenskyy presented his “victory plan” to Ukraine during a speech in the Verkhovna Rada (Parliament) on 16 October and to the European Union summit in Brussels on 17 October. The first point of the plan is Ukraine’s invitation to NATO as a crucial step for future peace and a deterrent to further Russian aggression.

An unnamed senior administration official stated,

“There’s a discussion amongst NATO Allies about an invitation. There is not consensus at this time to offer Ukraine an invitation.“

However, the official emphasized that all 32 NATO allies had affirmed Ukraine’s irreversible path to membership during the July NATO Summit.

Aid for Ukraine

The official highlighted that the US continues to provide substantial military support to Ukraine, with President Biden announcing an additional $425 million in military aid on 17 October, including Javelin anti-tank missiles, air defense capabilities, and other critical supplies for Ukraine’s frontline needs.

The senior official highlighted the urgency felt within the White House to support Ukraine’s position of strength in the conflict.

“This is not just a war about Ukraine’s independence, its sovereignty, its territorial integrity, and its democratic character, although it is all of those things. But above and beyond that, this is about the world order,” the official stated.

“Time not on Putin’s side”

Addressing the challenging situation in Ukraine’s Donetsk and Luhansk Oblasts, where Russia gradually advances, the administration is focusing on surging capability to help Ukraine hold its lines and potentially reverse recent setbacks. The official emphasized,

“Putin knows that time is not on his side, that time is, in fact, on Ukraine’s side, and that we will stand with Ukraine and give it what it needs to prevail.”

“Victory plan”

Regarding Zelenskyy’s “victory plan,” the official noted that “there is an active conversation about the different elements of the plan.“

“There are certain elements that we are currently fulfilling in terms of providing additional military capability, which is also an element of the plan,” the official added.

A leaders-level meeting of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group, also known as the Ramstein Summit, is planned for November to further coordinate international support for Ukraine. Zelenskyy is expected to pitch his victory plan to the members of the group at the meeting.

“I can’t support Zelenskyy’s whole Victory plan,” says NATO chief Rutte

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