Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky defended this Monday, before the start of the NATO summit, that Ukraine “deserves to be” in the Atlantic Alliance, urging members to give “a clear signal” that it will join at the end of war.
“Everyone understands. Every leader, every state. Although there are different positions, it is clear that Ukraine deserves to be in the Alliance,” Zelensky stressed, in his last address to the nation before the NATO summit, which begins on Tuesday in Vilnius. .
Volodymyr Zelensky recalled that integration into the Atlantic Alliance will not be possible as long as the war lasts, but stressed that Ukraine needs “a clear signal” now.
For the Ukrainian head of state, his country is already a “de facto” part of NATO.
“The security of NATO’s eastern flank depends on Ukraine,” he reiterated, recalling that Ukraine shares the Alliance’s mission to defend itself against Russia with the weapons of member countries.
“Vilnius has to confirm that,” Zelensky shot, adding that he is working with NATO countries “on the specific words” of the confirmation that Kiev expects to receive at the July 11-12 summit.
Zelensky explained that his goal in the Lithuanian capital is to find a formula that will allow Ukraine to join the Atlantic Alliance “in the clearest and fastest way possible.”
The Ukrainian official also said he will ask his allies for new military aid to protect Ukrainian cities from Russian airstrikes and for more weapons to advance his counteroffensive.
After threatening not to participate in the Vilnius summit if he was not granted an invitation to join the Alliance after the war, Zelensky confirmed his presence in the Lithuanian capital, according to NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg. .
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Sunday that he expected “the best possible outcome” from the NATO summit in Vilnius, with Ukraine expected to receive guarantees of Western support in the face of Russian aggression.
A Western official, who requested anonymity, told Agence France-Presse (AFP) news agency that NATO is ready to “remove a major obstacle” to Ukraine’s application to join the Atlantic Alliance.
According to the source, the allies “are ready” to withdraw the requirement of the action plan for Ukraine’s accession.
The action plan, continues the source quoted by AFP, “is only one of the phases” of the process of joining the alliance and, even if it is suppressed, Ukraine “will still have to make other reforms” before joining NATO.
Source: TSF
