NATO pledges $43 billion in assistance to Ukraine, guarantees ‘irreversible path’ to membership
NATO has pledged $43 billion in military assistance to Ukraine and guaranteed an ‘irreversible path’ for the ex-Soviet republic toward membership in the US-led military alliance once the current war with Russia is over.
The binding assurance of protection was made after the 32-member bloc formally declared on Wednesday that it would ultimately grant Ukraine membership but only after the conclusion of the ongoing war.
The alliance also pledged to supply Ukraine with at least $43bn in military aid within the next year to boost its defenses against Russia.
NATO member nations, both individually and collectively in their summit statement in Washington, outlined measures to strengthen Ukraine’s defense. As part of the pledge to bolster Ukraine’s military, the United States, the Netherlands, and Denmark announced that Ukrainian military pilots would receive NATO-provided F-16s as soon as this summer.
Furthermore, NATO declared a lasting pledge of security aid to Ukraine and affirmed the creation of a new NATO center to ensure a consistent supply of weapons and training to Ukraine from the bloc’s members. This is while Kiev argues that these commitments do not provide the military capability necessary to defeat the Russian forces.
Washington said it would be deploying longer-range missiles in Germany in 2026, a major step aimed at countering what the bloc claims to be Russia’s growing “threat” to Europe. This would be the first time since the Cold War that the European continent becomes home to the most potent US weapons.
“Ukraine’s future is in NATO,” NATO members said in their final communiqué following the alliance's summit, stressing, “We will continue to support it on its irreversible path to full Euro-Atlantic integration, including NATO membership.”
They also welcomed Ukraine’s economic and security reforms needed to join the alliance, stressing that Kiev would get an invitation “when Allies agree and conditions are met.”
Since Russia launched its “special military operation” in Ukraine in February 2022, Kiev has become far and away the top recipient of US weapons.
Since the start of the war in Ukraine, the US, alone, has provided approximately $51.4 billion in military assistance to Kiev, the US State Department said in early July.
In a speech to NATO leaders, Biden announced plans to supply new patriot missile batteries to Ukraine, as Russia intensifies its military campaign against its neighboring country.
Moscow has time and again warned that the West's military support of Ukraine will only prolong the war.
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