The White House sidestepped a question about a possible fissure in how Western allies are prepared to talk about Ukraine’s NATO aspirations being placed on hold to avert a Russian offensive.
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said this week that it was time to acknowledge that Kyiv joining the defensive alliance was “practically not on the agenda.” Washington has insisted on Ukraine’s right to pursue membership if it desires.
President Joe Biden’s press secretary said the United States had not raised this prospect with allies and would not weigh in on Ukraine’s decision.
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“Nations have the right to sovereignty, to territorial integrity — freedom to set their own course and choose who they associate with, so we, the United States, were never going to pressure Ukraine or any country to join or not join a global alliance,” Jen Psaki said Tuesday. “That is up to them and up to the other members of NATO.”
Just a week ago, Scholz pledged unity with Biden during a visit to the White House. This is the latest breach calling into question Washington’s repeated assertions of a united posture against Russia.
Asked whether allies had discussed Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky “giving up on NATO aspirations as a possible off-ramp” in the conflict, Psaki responded that this was not something the U.S. would put forth.
“Well, we have not raised that from the United States,” she said.
The issue has been the focus of Russia’s security demands as it masses forces along Ukraine’s borders in numbers that Biden said had swelled to 150,000. Amid the standoff, U.S. officials have warned that an invasion could come at any time.
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While Russia has denied any intention of attacking Ukraine, it has demanded security concessions from NATO, including a promise that the alliance will not add Ukraine as a member.
