Biden says Ukraine is ‘NOT ready’ for entry into NATO as he departs for 2023 summit in Lithuania

By William On Jul 9, 2023

Joe Biden said Ukraine should not be allowed to join the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) until the war with Russia is over.

Ukraine, as it continues to defend against Russian aggression, expects an invitation to join NATO — but Biden and other allies aren’t so sure of the prospects.

President Biden claims that Russian President Vladimir Putin’s goal in invading Ukraine in February 2022 was to dissolve NATO once and for all — and stressed that the main goal should be to stop that attempt.

‘I do not think so [Ukraine is] ready for NATO membership,” Biden said during a foreign policy-focused interview with CNN’s Fareed Zakaria GPS that aired Sunday morning.

Biden departed the US for the 2023 NATO summit in Lithuania on Sunday morning, after spending the weekend at his beach house in Rehobobo Beach, Delaware.

He said there is division within NATO over members’ uncertainty about involving Ukraine in the middle of the war with Russia.

President Joe Biden left for the 2023 NATO summit in Lithuania on Sunday morning after claiming Ukraine is ‘not ready’ to join the treaty body

Speaking to CNN’s Fareed Zakaria, Biden said Ukraine must end its war with Russia before it can be accepted into NATO.

“I spent a lot of time, as you know, trying to keep NATO together, because I believe [Russian President Vladimir] Putin had an overwhelming goal from the moment he launched 185,000 troops into Ukraine, and that was breaking NATO,” Biden explained. He was convinced he could break NATO. So keeping NATO together is really crucial.’

“I don’t think there is a consensus within NATO on whether or not to include Ukraine in the NATO family right now, in the middle of a war.”

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is urging NATO to send a ‘clear signal’ at this week’s summit whether the country will be admitted.

Delaware Democratic Senator Chris Coons also told CBS host Margaret Brennan on Sunday morning that NATO cannot allow Ukraine in at this time.

He said the war with Russia must first be “settled” with Ukraine, the victor, before NATO can consider adding them to the treaty.

“They are on track to join the EU… which lays the foundation for NATO membership in the future,” Coons said during his interview on CBS Face the Nation.

In Biden’s rare sit-down interview with CNN, the president managed not to answer difficult questions about his son Hunter or the discovery of cocaine in the White House.

Host Zakaria kept the focus on foreign policy — but never asked Biden about his son, despite a growing public feeling that the president was “probably involved” in Hunter’s foreign business deals.

The interview was taped at the White House on Friday, July 7, as Biden prepares to attend the 2023 NATO summit this week in Vilnius, Lithuania.

It was also the first time Biden had participated in an interview since the US Secret Service found a white powder substance in the White House last Sunday that turned out to be cocaine. Trolls online immediately began blaming Hunter for bringing the illegal drug into the White House.

Biden said Russian President Vladimir Putin’s goal in last February’s invasion of Ukraine was to break up NATO — and said the main goal is to prevent that from happening

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky wants and expects to be admitted to NATO and wants the summit to send a ‘clear signal’ as to where the request lies

Joe Biden’s rare sit-down interview with CNN’s Fareed Zakaria did not include questions about the president’s son, Hunter Biden, or the discovery of cocaine in the White House last week.

Biden, wearing loafers, entered Air Force One via the underbelly stairway instead of taking the much longer and larger ladder truck. Critics have noticed that the president has stopped taking the longer staircase after a series of fumbles and jaunts, raising questions about his eligibility for office.

Despite swirling questions about the incident last week, Biden was not asked about the discovery of cocaine and the ongoing investigation into the matter. He also ignored questions on the subject from members of the press during public appearances.

There were also no questions about the president’s 52-year-old son, who is still subject to multiple investigations related to his years of foreign affairs and allegations that he would use his father’s position for financial gain and enrichment of his family.

In the meantime, a new Rasmussen survey A report released on Sunday shows that 58 percent of Americans think President Biden was at least “very or somewhat likely” involved in his son Hunter’s foreign business deals.

The survey conducted from June 28-29 and July 2 found that only 14 percent think it is “not very likely” and 19 percent say it is “not at all likely” that Biden was involved.

Biden was also not forced to ask questions about the recent plea deal his son reached with the Justice Department, which will allow him to avoid jail time.

Hunter Biden is pleading guilty to two tax-related charges and has entered probation on a separate charge of lying on a federal form to purchase a firearm. He checked a box to indicate that he was not using or addicted to illegal drugs at the time of the gun purchase, even though the timelines detailed in his own book claim otherwise.

Public outcry followed news of the deal with claims of preferential treatment because of who the defendant’s father is.

The interview aired on the same day, a new Rasmussen poll revealed that 58% of likely voters think President Biden was involved in Hunter’s foreign business dealings.

Cocaine was discovered in the White House last week, overshadowing the usual Fourth of July celebration. Trolls online immediately said Biden’s addicted son Hunter was to blame for bringing the illegal drug onto the property

Zakaria kept all questions mainly focused on foreign policy, except for an age-related question at the end of the interview. The president was not faced with difficult questions about his son Hunter

During the interview for CNN’s Fareed Zakaria GPS program that aired Sunday morning, the president discussed sending ammunition aid to Ukraine in its war with Russia, his talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin, and the upcoming NATO summit. .

Zakaria saved all foreign policy questions to the end of the interview, where he talked about how age has become a central issue in the 2024 presidential race.

Rather than argue why he is fit for office or further brush aside concerns about his age or physical and mental abilities, Biden said, “I just want to get the job done. And I think we can do that in the next six years.”