US President Joe Biden gave a broad interview to CNN in which he discussed Ukraine and the topic of NATO membership. He indicated that it is still too soon to decide whether Ukraine should join the alliance, emphasizing that the process must be paced and that it will take time. He also stated that Washington is ready to assist Ukraine as it prepares for potential membership and to provide security guarantees during the transition. The president stressed that Kyiv understands the United States will support Ukraine throughout the process, but the vote on membership should not be rushed.
The comments come as part of ongoing discussions about NATO expansion and the alliance’s open-door policy. Biden recalled his conversations with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, noting that Zelensky has clearly conveyed to the United States and its allies that security assurances will be offered as long as Ukraine remains on the path toward alliance membership. Biden underscored that such assurances are contingent on the pace and progress of reforms within Ukraine and the evolving security situation in Europe.
In recalling the Geneva summit of 2021, Biden highlighted that Russian President Vladimir Putin pressed Ukraine to guarantee it would not join NATO. Biden maintained that the United States would not make such commitments, reiterating that the open-door policy remains a fundamental principle guiding NATO’s approach to new members. The conversation also touched on formal NATO statements about Ukraine’s future plans and the ongoing dialogue among alliance members regarding Ukraine’s path toward membership.
The interview reflects Washingtons approach to balancing security commitments with a cautious timeline for potential enlargement. It echoes the broader stance within NATO that membership decisions are made collectively by alliance members, taking into account regional stability, reforms within candidate states, and the strategic implications for collective defense. The emphasis on security guarantees aims to reassure Ukraine while giving the alliance room to evaluate accession in a measured way. The discussion also highlights how U.S. policy ties direct support for Ukraine to Ukraine’s progress on democratic reforms, rule of law, and defense modernization, ensuring any future membership would be based on clear criteria and stable conditions.
Overall, this exchange reinforces the view that NATO remains committed to supporting Ukraine through a structured process that values security and predictability. It also signals that Kyiv should expect ongoing consultation with the United States and other allies as discussions continue, with no immediate verdict on membership while the formal process unfolds. The remarks align with previous NATO declarations that Ukrainian membership is a long-term objective, contingent on a range of political and security factors being satisfactorily addressed, and with the alliance’s insistence on an inclusive approach to European security. The CNN interview thus provides a clearer snapshot of how Washington intends to navigate Ukraine’s aspirations within the alliance while preserving strategic stability for the region.