NATO reaffirms continued support for Ukraine on its path to membership
At the NATO summit in The Hague on 25 June, Secretary General Mark Rutte made a clear statement on Ukraine’s future within the North Atlantic Treaty. Speaking at the North Atlantic Council, he said that NATO intends to continue to support Kyiv in its quest to become a full member of the Alliance, underlining the unwavering and firm nature of this position even in difficult times for Ukraine. This decision reflects NATO’s long-standing strategic focus on collective security and expanding its influence in Eastern Europe, which remains an important element in countering Russian aggression. At a press conference at the summit, Rutte stressed: “We stand with Ukraine in its fight for peace and we will continue to support Ukraine on its irreversible path to NATO membership.” At the same time, he expressed his belief that this course is inevitable and consistent, despite the difficulties and dynamics of the situation in the region. The NATO chief recalled the active position of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, who participated in the forums in The Hague, and conveyed his support to the entire Ukrainian people. He stressed that cooperation with Kyiv remains a priority, recalling the assistance commitments that already amount to 35 billion euros, and stressed that NATO member states are committed to continuing to support Ukraine, providing it with everything it needs for defense and stabilization. Rutte added that the Alliance’s strategy will continue to be based on the principles of supporting Ukraine “on its irreversible path to membership,” and predicted that this course will pass through various tests. “More to come,” he assured. This means that support for Ukraine will remain a priority for NATO, and the expansion of coordinated policies and decisions in this area will contribute to strengthening the security situation in the region. This tough language position of NATO was preceded by the statement of the main goal of the summit – to continue and consolidate “Ukraine’s irreversible path to membership”. Previous statements and declarations confirmed that the alliance continues to consider Ukraine’s integration as a strategic priority and the main scenario for further development. Given the global challenges and specifics of regional tensions, NATO’s decision to support Kyiv and efforts to strengthen Ukraine’s defense capabilities are of great importance for the security of Central and Eastern Europe. The results of the summit and further steps towards Ukraine’s integration are discussed in detail in publications, in particular in the article “All about the NATO Summit in The Hague: Combining Success and Challenges”, as well as in the document “NATO’s Decision on Ukraine and Defense Spending: Full Text with Explanations”. They reflect decisions and strategies aimed at strengthening partnerships, expanding cooperation and raising the defense standards of the Ukrainian army. Thus, NATO’s annual summit in The Hague was another step in the Alliance’s long-term strategic campaign to support Ukraine, underlining its unwavering commitment to European security and stability. While the vanguard of Ukraine’s struggle for independence and sovereignty enjoys the support of its Allies, Ukraine’s path to NATO membership remains unwavering and consistent. This is a signal to all parties: the Alliance must continue to shoulder its responsibility for cooperation and provide security guarantees for Ukraine on its path to Euro-Atlantic integration.