Critics say promise of future NATO membership for Ukraine falls short

Ukraine argues that it won’t be safe from Russia's aggression until it’s a member of NATO, an alliance whose bedrock commitment is the mutual defense of all its members.

VILNIUS, Lithuania — After rallying trans-Atlantic allies in a message of support for Ukraine as it vies for new security guarantees, President Joe Biden now faces critics who say the distant promise of its path to future NATO membership will do little to ward off Russia’s aggression in the near term.

The military alliance is meeting here in Lithuania's capital this week to discuss plans to shore up its defenses against Russia, with the war in Ukraine atop the agenda.

Kyiv argues it won't be safe from Moscow until it's a member of NATO, an alliance whose bedrock commitment is the mutual defense of all its members. Talk of an invitation into the alliance for Ukraine, or even a pathway, was watched closely leading up to the summit and throughout Tuesday as the 31 leaders tried to forge a consensus on the issue.

Previewing the summit, Biden’s national security adviser told reporters that leaders would “send a united, positive signal on Ukraine’s path to future member membership in the alliance,” though they were unlikely to offer a timeline for the process.

“Every few months, the question is called: ‘Can the West hang together? Can NATO hang together, trans-Atlantic unity hang together?’” Jake Sullivan said. “Every time allies gather, that question gets re-upped, and every time allies come together and answer forcefully and vehemently, ‘Yes we can.’”