Leaders of NATO unanimously declare that 'the destiny of Ukraine lies within the Western alliance.
Leaders of NATO have collectively declared that "the destiny of Ukraine lies within NATO" and its journey is "unstoppable", promising enduring assistance to Kyiv.
They did not set a definite date for Ukraine's entry into the defensive group.
Rather, they said they would "be ready to offer Ukraine a place in the Alliance once Allies concur and the necessary conditions are fulfilled".
"We are pleased with the tangible advancements Ukraine has achieved since the Vilnius Summit in terms of its democratic, economic, and security reforms," the leaders stated in the Washington Summit Declaration, following NATO's North Atlantic Council meeting on Wednesday (Thursday AEST).
"As Ukraine persists in its crucial efforts, we will remain committed to its permanent journey towards complete integration into the Euro-Atlantic community, which includes NATO membership," the declaration stated.
The declaration detailed the alliance's ongoing backing for Kyiv, including previous commitments on new air defence systems and creating the "NATO Security Assistance and Training for Ukraine (NSATU) to oversee the distribution of military gear and training for Ukraine by Allies and partners".
"It's clear that resolving this conflict in Ukraine according to Ukraine's wishes is beneficial for Australia's national interests," he stated.
"That's why we've offered substantial assistance to Ukraine up to now, and we plan to keep supporting Ukraine."
"We view this conflict as one that will last for a while, and we are committed to standing by Ukraine until Ukraine can resolve it on its own terms."
The term "irreversible" regarding Ukraine's direction was introduced following months of diplomatic talks leading up to the Washington Summit, becoming a point of disagreement among the allies.
Before the declaration was made public, a few diplomats contended that merely stating the situation as "irreversible" was insufficient; they believed there needed to be solid backing for such a claim.
Transporting the training and gear management to NATO's control is viewed by numerous as a method to guarantee continuous backing for Kyiv should Donald Trump, the ex-president of the US, be reelected.
The statement also acknowledged the Indo-Pacific region as "crucial for NATO," yet it did not propose a significant involvement of the alliance in this region.
Australia, New Zealand, South Korea, and Japan are allies of the Western coalition.
"We are pleased with the ongoing support from our Asia-Pacific allies for Euro-Atlantic security," it stated.
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