NATO allies reaffirmed their support for Ukraine at a recent summit in Washington, promising additional aid and backing its path to NATO membership. However, the meeting also highlighted growing tensions with Russia and China.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky urged NATO to lift restrictions on long-range weapons, claiming this would be a “game-changer” in the war against Russia. Meanwhile, China strongly criticized NATO’s stance on its support for Russia, calling it biased and malicious.
NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg emphasized the alliance’s unity, stating, “We are turning a corner and putting in place the foundations for Ukraine to prevail.” He added that the summit sent a clear message to Moscow that “violence and intimidation do not pay.”
However, the summit was not without controversy. U.S. President Joe Biden made verbal slips during press conferences, mistakenly referring to Zelensky as “President Putin” and Vice President Kamala Harris as “Vice President Trump.” These gaffes are likely to fuel calls for Biden to withdraw from the 2024 presidential race.
The alliance’s declaration also included strong criticism of China, describing it as a “decisive enabler” of Russia’s war in Ukraine. In response, China’s Foreign Ministry accused NATO of having a “Cold War mentality and spreading lies.”
Despite the show of unity, internal divisions within NATO emerged. Hungary expressed reluctance to support NATO becoming an “anti-China” bloc and raised concerns about Ukraine’s potential admission to the alliance.
The summit also highlighted fears about the upcoming U.S. presidential election and its potential impact on NATO and support for Ukraine. Former president Donald Trump’s past criticisms of NATO and his relationship with President Vladimir Putin have raised concerns among allies.
As the war in Ukraine continues, NATO’s commitment to providing military aid remains strong. The alliance pledged at least 40 billion euros in support over the next year. However, questions remain about the long-term sustainability of this support and the potential for escalation in the conflict.
With inputs from Reuters
