NATO to offer Ukraine 'concrete paths' to membership at summit - senior State Department official
Kyiv • UNN
Douglas Jones, Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs, said that the alliance will discuss how to help Ukraine defend itself against Russian aggression now, how to deter Russia in the future, and how to prepare for NATO membership.
NATO will offer Ukraine "concrete ways" to accelerate its future membership in the North Atlantic Alliance during next week's summit in Washington, DC, Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs Douglas Jones told Voice of America, UNN reports.
The publication notes that the final declaration is expected to confirm that Ukraine will become a member of NATO, but a State Department official is quoted as saying that the specific wording is still being negotiated.
The United States and all NATO Allies have said that Ukraine's future is in NATO. At this Summit, we will unveil concrete ways in which NATO can help Ukraine defend itself against Russian aggression, build the future power needed to deter Russia, and implement the necessary reforms to make itself a stronger candidate for NATO membership
"Together, this is what we call a 'bridge to membership' in NATO. The support we are going to provide at the summit will really help accelerate Ukraine's path to NATO membership," he emphasized.
Asked whether the bridge was irreversible, the State Department official said that "the wording of the declaration is still being negotiated among the allies." "The alliance has already stated that Ukraine will become a member of NATO," he added.
