Shaheen and Tillis to co-lead Senate delegation for Ukraine at NATO summit.
A Bipartisan Delegation to Reaffirm U.S. Support for Ukraine at NATO Summit
A bipartisan group of senators is set to travel to Vilnius, Lithuania, next month for the NATO summit. Their mission is to reaffirm U.S. support for Ukraine and its ongoing efforts to become a member of the alliance.
The six-member delegation, led by Sens. Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) and Thom Tillis (R-NC), includes Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Sens. Pete Ricketts (R-NE), Angus King (I-ME), and Dan Sullivan (R-AK). President Joe Biden will also be in attendance when the summit convenes on July 11-12.
“In response to Putin’s further invasion of Ukraine and his barbaric campaign of violence against a sovereign nation and civilian populations, NATO responded with historic unity and strength,” Shaheen and Tillis said in a statement. “To stand by our partners and defend democracy worldwide — from Putin or any adversary who threatens our rules-based order — the Alliance must continue to work in lock-step. We look forward to conveying that message and reaffirming the United States’ commitment to that promise at the 2023 NATO Summit in Vilnius.”
At the start of Russia’s war in Ukraine last year, NATO had 30 members. However, Finland and Sweden quickly ended their neutrality and applied to join the alliance. Finland became the 31st member earlier this month, while Turkey and Hungary have objected to Sweden’s application.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky had been lobbying for NATO membership for his country in the years leading up to Russia’s invasion. However, not all member states were convinced to approve the application due to concerns over Ukraine’s corruption issues. Turkey, in particular, has expressed reservations about granting Ukraine’s request to join the alliance.
When asked about the potential for Ukraine joining NATO, President Biden made it clear that the country would have to meet the same standards as other member nations.
“No,” Biden said. “Because they’ve got to meet the same standards. So, we’re not going to make it easy.”
Biden emphasized that while Ukraine has demonstrated its military capabilities, it must also address issues of system security and corruption to fully meet NATO’s standards. He dismissed reports that his administration was considering waiving the requirement for Ukraine to have a Membership Action Plan to join NATO.
“I think they’ve done everything relating to demonstrating the ability to coordinate militarily, but there’s a whole issue of: Is their system secure? Is it noncorrupt? Does it meet all the standards every other nation in NATO does?” he said. “I think they will. I think they can, but it’s not automatic.”
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