NATO expected to lay out plan to prepare Ukraine for membership during upcoming summit

The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) is expected to help prepare Ukraine to be able assume responsibilities as a member in the alliance during its upcoming summit. 

The summit will take place next week in Washington, D.C., and will go from July 9-11.

This is not a plan for direct membership, but is a plan to ensure Ukraine can contribute to NATO if it eventually joins, according to The Epoch Times. 

“Allies will reaffirm that Ukraine’s future is in NATO [and] will make significant new announcements about how we’re increasing NATO’s military, political, and financial support for Ukraine,” a Biden administration official said, according to the outlet. 

This plan is part of a larger “bridge to membership” initiative to help Ukraine get military responsibilities in the alliance on the first day once it eventually gets in. 

Ukraine is currently at war with Russia, and Russian President Vladimir Putin has been adamant about keeping Ukraine from joining NATO. He has said that Russia's objectives in the war are to demilitarize Ukraine and to make sure that it remains neutral in international affairs.