US says Ukraine is on an ‘irreversible’ path to NATO membership. But only after war with Russia ends

WASHINGTON — Ukraine is on an ‘irreversible’ path to NATO membershipUS Secretary of State Antony Blinken said on Wednesday, reinforcing US assurances that the country will be allowed to join the Western military alliance, but only after the war with Russia is over.

A joint communiqué from all 32 NATO allies meeting in Washington is expected later on Wednesday to reaffirm NATO’s “irreversible” commitment to Ukraine, a European official said on condition of anonymity to discuss it before it is released.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has fought for at least a solid guarantee from NATO that Ukraine may join the military alliance.

The US and some other countries have opposed Ukraine’s membership, while the conflict with Russia continues to prevent allies from being sucked into a larger war. They have also stressed that Ukraine must take significant steps to tackle corruption and implement other systemic reforms.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has long fiercely opposed the accession of neighboring Ukraine to the Western alliance, calling it an infringement on Russia’s security and interests.

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg stressed that Ukraine will not immediately join the alliance.

“To invite a new ally, we need consensus. All allies agree that Ukraine will join, but it is too early to say when that will happen,” he told reporters.