U.S. keeps NATO door open, but nothing firm for Ukraine at present

The White House
clarified a spokesperson’s remarks regarding Ukraine’s NATO accession effort on
May 6. Principal Deputy Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre stated in a “press
gaggle” that the Biden Administration supported Ukraine’s NATO accession
aspirations.

When the official
transcript of the meeting with reporters was posted on whitehouse.gov, part of
Jean-Pierre’s reply to a reporter’s question of “You support Ukraine joining
NATO?”, which included “yeah” twice was struck through. American conservative
media, including nypost.com, pointed to the change, and the White House has
since stated that while the U.S. does “keep the door open” to NATO aspirants,
as Jean-Pierre stated, she misspoke about supporting Ukraine’s entry in
particular.

James Hydzik: The
press readout shows that the press secretary’s response was off the cuff. Under
normal circumstances, this could become a topic of discussion in terms of the
possibilities of a purposeful slip to test the Russian reaction or perhaps an
embarrassment or kow-towing to Russian demands before a Biden-Putin summit. If
little else happens as the long commemoration weekend starts in Europe, then
this will be chewed over. The general direction of the Biden administration –
that both Russian aggression and Ukrainian progress in reform are equally
important – will not change from this error.