Stoltenberg on Ukraine Nato membership: 'Not the question of if, but when'
Stoltenberg said that Ukraine’s membership to Nato is not a “question of if, but when.”
“As Ukraine continues its vital reforms, we will continue to support them on the irreversible path to Nato membership. The work we are doing together now will ensure that when the time is right, Ukraine can join without delay. It is not a question of if, but when,” he said.
“In this dangerous world, friends and partners are more important than ever,” he added.
The first F-16 fighter jets are on their way to Ukraine and will be flying sorties this summer, according to a statement from the Dutch and Danish governments. Dick Schoof, the prime minister of the Netherlands, and Mette Frederiksen, his counterpart from Denmark, said the “transfer process” of F-16s to Kyiv was under way after months of pilot training and political negotiations.
The long-awaited supply of F-16s is part of what Nato’s secretary general, Jens Stoltenberg, said would be “a substantial package” of support for Ukraine, which includes the donation of four Patriot air defence systems, Nato-led training for Ukraine’s troops – and a commitment that Kyiv’s eventual path to Nato membership is “irreversible”.
Nato allies also criticised China, with stronger language than used before, for assisting Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, calling it a “decisive enabler” of the war by supporting Moscow in its “no limits” partnership, and supplying components for military equipment and chemicals for explosives.
Keir Starmer, the UK’s prime minister, said his new government will stick with plans to spend at least £3bn every year on military support for Ukraine for “as long as is it takes” in its conflict with Russia. After his first official bilateral talks with the Ukrainian president, Volodymyr Zelenskiy, at the Nato summit in Washington, Starmer confirmed the military aid would continue until at least 2030-31.
Starmer reiterates that UK support for Ukraine remains unchanged – video
Britain will be “the leading European nation” in Nato under a Labour government, the new defence secretary, John Healey,pledged – though spending may have to rise significantly if the UK is to remain ahead of Germany.
The US will deploy long-range weapons to Germany in 2026in an effort to demonstrate its commitment to Nato and European defence,the two countries announced.
Joe Biden, the US president, promised to defend Ukraine against the Russian invasion in remarks to Nato leaders. “We can and will defend every inch of Nato territory and we will do it together,” Biden told Nato leaders as they opened the first work session.
David Lammy, the UK’s new foreign secretary, shared a photo of him and his US counterpart, secretary of state Antony Blinken,meeting at the Nato summit today.
The US and UK are partners in supporting Ukraine, Lammy said in a post to Twitter/X, adding that the countries are “unshakeably committed” to Nato and “the closest of friends and allies”.
Lammy added that he and Blinken will “work side by side to take the special relationship from strength to strength”.
The closest of friends and allies.@SecBlinken, we’ll work side by side to take the special relationship from strength to strength 🇬🇧🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/XGI41U1iDv
Ukraine’s “future is in Nato” and its path to membership is “irreversible”, Nato leaders jointly declared in a statement published today.
The joint declaration said Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine has “shattered peace and stability” and “gravely undermined global security”, adding that Moscow remains “the most significant and direct threat to Allies’ security”.
We reaffirm our unwavering solidarity with the people of Ukraine in the heroic defence of their nation, their land, and our shared values. A strong, independent, and democratic Ukraine is vital for the security and stability of the Euro-Atlantic area.
Nato leaders “fully support Ukraine’s right to decide its own future”, the declaration said, adding that they welcomed the “concrete progress” Kyiv had made on its required democratic, economic and security reforms.
As Ukraine continues this vital work, we will continue to support it on its irreversible path to full Euro-Atlantic integration, including NATO membership. We reaffirm that we will be in a position to extend an invitation to Ukraine to join the Alliance when Allies agree and conditions are met.
France’s president, Emmanuel Macron, also met with Keir Starmer today on the sidelines of the Nato summit. It was “good to see you”, Macron posted to Twitter/X, adding:
Our work together has already got off to a good start! We have a lot to achieve together!
Avec le nouveau Premier ministre du Royaume-Uni Keir Starmer. Aujourd'hui au sommet de l'OTAN, la semaine prochaine au sommet de la Communauté politique européenne : notre travail en commun a déjà bien commencé ! pic.twitter.com/KnC9CocK4q
Here’s more on that meeting between Keir Starmer and Joe Biden at the White House, where the US president jokingly said Starmer was responsible for England reaching the Euro final.
The UK and US are “the best of allies”, Biden said, adding: “We really need to compete and cooperate,” according to the pool report.
Biden said he was feeling “really optimistic” and that that he thought things are “moving in the right direction” at the Nato meeting.
Biden added that he saw the UK “as the knot tying the transatlantic alliance together”.
Starmer, in turn, congratulated Biden on a successful Nato summit and described the US-UK relationship as “so important”, adding that it was “forged in difficult circumstances, endured for so long and is stronger now than ever”.
Keir Starmer meets Joe Biden at the White House in Washington during his visit to the US to attend the Nato 75th anniversary summit, on 10 July 2024. Photograph: Stefan Rousseau/Reuters
China's deepening ties with Russia a cause of 'deep concern', says Nato declaration
Deepening ties between China and Russia are a cause of “deep concern”, Nato leaders said in a declaration from their summit, accusing Beijing of playing a key role in helping Moscow’s assault on Ukraine.
China “has become a decisive enabler of Russia’s war against Ukraine through its so-called ‘no limits’ partnership and its large-scale support for Russia’s defense industrial base”, the declaration said, AFP reported.
They urged China to “cease all material and political support to Russia’s war effort”, adding that this “includes the transfer of dual-use materials, such as weapons components, equipment, and raw materials that serve as inputs for Russia’s defense sector”.
China “cannot enable the largest war in Europe in recent history without this negatively impacting its interests and reputation”, Nato leaders said.
Keir Starmer held a meeting with Joe Biden at the White House, during which the UK prime minister said the “special relationship” with the US is “stronger than ever”. Starmer said:
The special relationship is so important, it was forged in difficult circumstances and endured for so long and is stronger now than ever.
Asked by a reporter if football is coming home after Ollie Watkins scored a dramatic last minute goal for England, Starmer replied: “It looks like it.”
Biden responded:
It’s because of the prime minister.
A viably delighted Starmer told Biden: “I began to watch the game with the Netherlands prime minister, but we left at 1-1.”
The president threw his head back and laughed, revealing a glistening set of teeth.
“And you guys are still talking to one another?” Biden joked.
The new UK government will stick with plans to spend at least £3bn every year on military support for Ukraine for “as long as is it takes” in its conflict with Russia, Keir Starmer has said.
After his first official bilateral talks with the Ukrainian president, Volodymyr Zelenskiy, at the Nato summit in Washington, the prime minister confirmed the military aid would continue until at least 2030-31.
The UK has to date promised almost £12bn in support to Ukraine since February 2022, of which £7.1bn is for military assistance. The rest is for humanitarian and economic support.
In his talks with Zelenskiy, Starmer underscored that Ukraine was on an “irreversible” path to Nato membership. However, diplomats at the Nato summit say that setting out any firm timetable would be a gift to the Russian president, Vladimir Putin.
On Thursday, the prime minister will tell his fellow leaders:
Nato was founded by the generation who defeated fascism. They understood not just the value of our strength, but the strength of our values.
Those values are under attack once again. Putin needs to hear a clear message ringing out from this summit – a message of unity and determination, that we will support Ukraine with whatever it takes, for as long as it takes to uphold our shared values and our shared security.
The US will deploy long-range weapons to Germany in 2026, the two countries announced on Wednesday.
In a joint statement released amid the ongoing Nato summit in Washington DC, the two Nato allies said:
“The United States will begin episodic deployments of the long-range fires capabilities of its Multi-Domain Task Force in Germany in 2026, as part of planning for enduring stationing of these capabilities in the future.
When fully developed, these conventional long-range fires units will include SM-6, Tomahawk, and developmental hypersonic weapons, which have significantly longer range than current land-based fires in Europe.
Exercising these advanced capabilities will demonstrate the United States’ commitment to Nato and its contributions to European integrated deterrence.”
Following months of training and negotiations, the first F-16 fighter jets are heading to Ukraine.
The Guardian’s Dan Sabbagh reports:
The first F-16 fighter jets are on their way to Ukraine and will be flying sorties this summer, according to a statement from the Dutch and Danish governments that was released by the White House at the Nato summit.
Dick Schoof, the prime minister of the Netherlands, and Mette Frederiksen, his counterpart from Denmark, said the “transfer process” of F-16s to Kyiv was under way after months of pilot training and political negotiations.
The two leaders said that “Ukraine will be flying operational F-16s this summer” – the first of about 85 of the combat aircraft that have been committed to Kyiv to turn around its fortunes on the battlefield, and Ukraine signalled more may be to come.
The long awaited supply of F-16s is part of what Nato’s secretary general, Jens Stoltenberg, said would be “a substantial package” of support for Ukraine, which includes the donation of four Patriot air defence systems, Nato-led training for Ukraine’s troops – and a commitment that Kyiv’s eventual path to Nato membership is “irreversible”.
Stoltenberg answered a question on the potential reversal of Ukraine’s possible membership to Nato, saying:
“Surely, if a country goes back on reforms, reneges on commitments, by definition, it is going backwards. It is reversing its path. That’s not to say that’s what Ukraine is doing now, but surely you can’t rule out in the future …
Words are important and words create expectation, create an agenda, define an ambition. But of course, as important as words, the language in the declaration is actually what we then have agreed to do. So in many ways, action speaks at least as loudly as words …
The Nato doctrines also help them to move closer to membership. We have … agreed to establish a new joint analysis and training center in Poland that will help us to move closer. And of course, the fact that allies are, for instance, delivering F16s and many other types of weapons … These are all concrete actions that will bring [Ukraine closer to Nato membership].”
Speaking on the opening of a Nato office in Amman, Jordan, Stoltenberg said:
“This marks a significant milestone in the strategic partnership between Jordan and Nato. This is an issue that I also discussed last time King Abdullah visited Nato … By establishing the Nato … office, we are bringing this partnership to a new level.”
“It also demonstrates that Nato actually addresses the threats and the challenges, but also the opportunities that emanate from the Middle East, from North Africa. Of course, we see terrorist threats, we see instability, but we also see opportunities, working more closely with our partners, including Jordan,” he added.
