Biden Says Ukraine Joining NATO Amid War Would Be 'Premature'

Ahead of this week's NATO summit in Lithuania, President Joe Biden offered comments on Ukraine's push to join NATO as its war with Russia continues.

What Biden Said: When asked in a CNN (Lean Left bias) interview if Ukraine should be given NATO membership, Biden said, "I don't think it's ready for membership in NATO." He added, "I don't think there is unanimity in NATO about whether or not to bring Ukraine into the NATO family now, at this moment, in the middle of a war. For example, if you did that, then, you know, and I mean what I say, we're determined to commit every inch of territory that is NATO territory as a commitment that we've all made no matter what. If the war is going on, then we're all in a war... So I think we have to lay out a path for the rational path for Russia, for -- excuse me, for Ukraine, to be able to qualify to get into NATO."

For Context: Biden recently approved shipments of cluster munitions to Ukraine, weapons that are banned by many other nations. Those shipments and Ukraine's NATO pleas will be a focus at the July 11-12 summit.

How the Media Covered It: Many sources across the spectrum framed Biden's remarks as a denial of Ukraine's request. Some, such as Newsweek, focused instead on Biden's "rational path" remark. Townhall (Right) said Biden "vowed to continue sending massive military aid to Ukraine despite denying" its NATO push.