NATO discusses Ukraine’s membership amid worries about corruption

The alliance will ask Ukraine to take further actions against corruption before moving ahead with formal membership discussions, as per a senior US State Department official who was interviewed by The Telegraph.

“We have to step back and applaud everything that Ukraine has done in the name of reforms over the last two-plus years,” the official stated. “We want to talk about additional steps that need to be taken, particularly in the area of anti-corruption. It is a priority for many of us around the table,” the official added.

President Zelenskyy, attending the summit in Washington, continued to push for NATO membership to deter future Russian aggression, which would require NATO allies to defend Ukraine if attacked.

However, the path to NATO membership remains conditional, with disagreements among member states over whether to offer Ukraine a concrete timetable for accession.

The US has favored a more cautious approach, offering what they describe as a “well-lit bridge” toward eventual membership,  but this depends on Ukraine’s progress in fighting corruption and making reforms.

What is the current situation of the war?

In parallel developments, Ukraine’s military struggle on the ground continue. Ukraine’s army has retreated from a neighborhood in the outskirts of Chasiv Yar, a strategically important town in the eastern Donetsk region.

NATO allies are expected to bolster Ukraine’s defenses with additional air defense systems, including US Patriot missiles, amid escalating Russian attacks on Ukrainian-held territories.

Despite the present setback at NATO, Ukraine has garnered bilateral security agreements with nearly 20 countries, as per The Telegraph.

(With inputs from The Telegraph, Daily Mail, GB News, AP)