JOE Biden last night warned Ukraine was not ready to join Nato.
The US President made the remarks on the eve of today’s meeting with Rishi Sunak in Downing Street.
Joe Biden has risked a rift with Rishi Sunak after warning Ukraine can’t join Nato yet
Joe Biden walks towards Marine One before landing in the UK for his visit
It risks opening a wider rift with the PM, who has insisted Ukraine’s “rightful place” is within the military alliance.
Mr Biden, who tonight landed at Stansted Airport for his UK visit, said: “I don’t think it’s ready for membership in Nato.
“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.”
He added Ukraine could join eventually and a pathway was needed.
Mr Sunak is hosting him this morning before they head to the Nato annual summit in Lithuania tomorrow.
Splits opened between the leaders after the PM refused to back Mr Biden’s decision to arm Ukraine with cluster munitions.
Britain is among 123 international signatories against the use of the deadly weapons because of a tendency to harm civilians.
No10 insists the meeting will largely focus on the Atlantic Declaration economic agreement they signed in Washington last month.
But former UK national security adviser Lord Ricketts said of the cluster bombs: “You can feel the allies are all very uncomfortable with this.”
Labour’s Shadow Chancellor Rachel Reeves sided with Mr Sunak against them.
Mr Biden will also meet King Charles on his trip to Britain.
