Biden, U.S. leaders insist war with Russia must end before Ukraine joins NATO

[former9thward]

Source: Washington Post

Ahead of this week’s NATO summit in Lithuania, U.S. leaders are insisting that the war with Russia must end before Ukraine is invited to join the powerful military alliance.

President Biden said during an interview with CNN’s Fareed Zakaria that aired Sunday that he doesn’t believe there will be “unanimity” on the issue of Ukraine’s membership while the nation remains “in the middle of a war.”

“We’re determined to [protect] every inch of territory that is NATO territory,” Biden said, noting that if Ukraine were part of NATO, it would put the alliance at war with Russia.

Biden added that it was “premature” to call for a vote on Ukrainian membership because the country still has to meet some NATO qualifications. Biden said he and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky have spoken at length about the issue of membership, and said the two have laid out a “rational path for Ukraine to be able to qualify.”

Read more: https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2023/07/09/biden-nato-ukraine-russia/

[DickKessler]

1. That's true. It's also true that Russia wouldn't have invaded Ukraine if it had been in NATO.

And it’s also true, sadly, that a lot of Russians—Putin and his inner circle most prominently and with the most power—genuinely believe not only that NATO expansion was and is a hostile “anti-Russian” act driven by the US, but more perniciously, that Ukraine is “not a real country.”

Since they believe those two things, it only follows that they think the US/NATO/the West is trying to break apart and destroy Russia and its “sphere of influence.”

They’re completely wrong, but when did being completely stop anyone? Exhibit A: the Republican Party in the US.

[BootinUp]

2. I don't expect this to be a problem. Putin

still hasn't figured out how to end it so it will end with him losing power.

[Hortensis]

3. Of course. Admission now would put all the NATO nations at war with Russia.

Immediately. We're hardly the only NATO nation that won't do brinksmanship this dangerously close to WWIII.

[Alexander Of Assyria]

7. So many don't understand that, or want the war with Russia. It's horrible thinking.

And…do not send banned monstrous cluster bombs…and lose all credibility in the eyes of the watching world.

[Hortensis]

9. I wish we weren't sending cluster munitions, but accept that the

reasons given are valid. Biden is not W.

Fwiw, I believe our people have become the U.S.'s huge credibility problem in the eyes of other nations. World leaders are very worried that we could again fail the role we've played in the security of many nations for the past 80 years.

When January 2025 arrives (soon), who will we have elected POTUS and which party will control congress?

How will Ukraine be faring against Russia at that point? Will Russia be forced to end the war or, newly empowered by our decisions, preparing to finish erasing Ukraine and move against others of the nearly 2 dozen bordering states? Enabling and assisting its allies in aggression elsewhere on the planet? I really doubt Putin will agree to withdrawal terms that Ukraine could accept while he waits to find out.

Dangerous times for us all.

[hueymahl]

16. Excellent points

Peace needs to be a priority, not war escalation.

[denvine]

4. Unfortunately,

that probably means an unending war in Ukraine. Since that is what is stopping the NATO membership, Putin will not allow the war to end or the only peace agreement will stipulate they can not join NATO, which of course they certainly should not trust Russia to honor. It's so sad that Ukrainians are stuck in this dire predicament.

[Lonestarblue]

5. It is sad. Not admitting Ukraine to NATO means unending war and destruction for Ukraine.

To keep Ukraine out of NATO, Putin will just keep the attacks going indefinitely. He can get enough new weapons from Iran to keep fighting and he doesn’t care how many Russian soldiers die for his cause. So far, he has enough control over the populace to face little resistance. Sanctions haven’t done much to hurt him or the country.

In reality, NATO membership might be the only thing that will save Ukraine and help end the war instead of forcing it to continue. The other reality to consider is that there is no guarantee that Trump will lose in 2024. If he wins, Ukraine may as well give their country to Putin.

[Alexander Of Assyria]

8. Admission has rules and steps...not been met,

Not to mention this would be equivalent of Warsaw Pact admitting Mexico and Cuba..,don’t think Americans would like that much.

[TomSlick]

6. Exactly.

If the ongoing war means Ukraine cannot join NATO, then Putin must continue to fight Ukraine until he runs out of conscripts or has a "terrible accident."

[Alexander Of Assyria]

10. Ukraine needs to say they will never ever join NATO, negotiate a damn end to the war stalemate.

and then be Finland and Sweden on that issue later…a perpetual threat of NATO entry would be a weapon also. One that doesn’t kill anyone in a stalemated carnage.

[TomSlick]

12. I am skeptical about a negotiated settlement.

What part of Ukraine and what Ukrainians should be left to Putin's tender mercies? Why would Ukraine believe that Putin would live-up to any agreement and not simply invade again when the Russian forces have been reconstituted?

Any settlement would necessarily include real guarantees by NATO if Putin invades again. The only real guarantee would be Ukraine joining NATO, which Putin could not accept.

The best hope for an end of the war is for Ukraine to be given what it needs to drive Russia from its territory. Ukraine needs modern fighter jets and the removal of restrictions against hitting Russian military targets in Russia.

[hueymahl]

15. Agree

That is the ultimate path. Hopefully it is being used as a bargaining chip that can be "conceeded"

[live love laugh]

11. How do you end a war you didn't start? Sounds impossible.

[TomSlick]

13. You win a war against an invader by driving the aggressor from your territory.

The war will end when the last of the Russian forces limp back into Russia.

[Hortensis]

17. Aided by various factors and forces, internal and external,

also encouraging Russia to end it.

So much we can't know. It'd have been nice to know in months past why Biden was so confident and reassuring that Turkey would agree to Sweden joining NATO when many were claiming it wouldn't happen.

[hueymahl]

14. I am hoping this is an opening gambit for peace talks

Dangle NATO admission as still expected so it can be negotiated away as part of a peace plan.