US-Ukraine Relations

🇺🇸🇺🇦 I believe President Biden is trying to repair US-German relations, which were sour during the Trump Administration. Trump and Merkel did not get along or see eye-to-eye on anything. I believe President Biden seeks Germany's support on European security issues, because he does not want to be perceived as anti-German, confrontational, or as a unilateralist. So he is withholding verbal support for Ukraine's membership in NATO, until Germany agrees to support their membership.

I believe President Zelenskyy is doing the right thing by securing support from EU leaders. As long as a strong majority of the EU leaders support Ukraine's membership in NATO, the Biden Administration's fears of being perceived as a unilateralist, or at least not showing solidarity with a European consensus, will force them to change their stance.

However, all 31 members, soon to be 32, must support Ukraine's membership in the alliance before they will become a member of NATO. They will still have to convince Germany and Hungary. I believe Germany fears a country that is larger than they are joining the EU and NATO, a country with the potential to become a strong economic and military force. Ukraine should work on allaying German fears. However, Germany has been the most vocal nation about multilateralism, so it won't look good if they are one of the few countries blocking Ukraine's membership. Hungary, on the other hand, has a long history with Ukraine that is full of old rivalries and conflicts. Plus Hungary has alarmingly been extremely friendly with Russia, and blocking Sweden's membership in the alliance for no apparent reason. Hungary does not care about being perceived as a unilateralist. Ukraine should try to improve their relationship with Hungary if possible.

If the USA offers Ukraine a treaty, however, we will essentially be providing Ukraine with an almost equivalent level of security as NATO membership, and destroying any leverage any of the naysaying countries would have by blocking Ukraine's membership to the alliance.

The US president and his administration can not withhold support for Ukraine's membership in NATO. The US Congress can force them to support it by passing legislation that requires them to do so, but I don't believe that will be necessary. I believe President Biden is simply trying to work with Germany rather than be confrontational with Germany like the previous administration. Ukraine should not fear that the USA will block their membership to NATO - that will not happen. The USA views Ukraine as an asset to the alliance and European security. Ukraine will have one of the strongest armies on the continent, and after this war, there is no doubt that Ukraine will take military preparedness very seriously to protect and defend their own nation as well as others. The USA looks forward to developing a strategic partnership with Ukraine, and we look forward to welcoming Ukraine to the alliance.

xo