Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Tuesday on his way to the NATO summit in Vilnius that it is absurd for the Atlantic Alliance not to give an invitation date for Ukraine’s entry.
Zelensky said he had indications that there would be a statement without direct reference to membership when the war ended.
“The formula refers only to the invitation and not to the accession of Ukraine,” Zelensky said of the content of the declaration that the allies are negotiating. The Ukrainian president considered “absurd and unprecedented” the fact that the statement under discussion did not include a date to invite Ukraine to join the Alliance.
The Ukrainian head of state also complained that the statement being prepared by NATO leaders alludes to the conditions for Ukraine not to be accepted into the alliance, but invited to join.
“It seems there is no will either to invite Ukraine to join NATO or to make it a member of the Alliance,” he said.
“This means that a window of opportunity is being left open in negotiations with Russia to negotiate Ukraine’s NATO membership. And for Russia, this means a reason for more terror,” Zelensky added in a post on social media.
We value our allies. We value our shared security. And we always appreciate an open conversation.
Ukraine will be represented at the NATO summit in Vilnius. Because it’s about respect.But Ukraine also deserves respect. Now, on the way to Vilnius, we received signals that…
– Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) July 11, 2023
Zelensky also complained that the formula for a possible NATO declaration is being negotiated “without Ukraine”, saying that his country “deserves respect”.
“Uncertainty means weakness and I will speak openly about it at this summit,” Zelensky concluded, foreshadowing a tense meeting in the Lithuanian capital on the issue.
The NATO summit, which began this Tuesday in Lithuania, focuses on supporting Ukraine in the face of the Russian invasion and on Sweden’s accession to the Atlantic Alliance, as well as on strengthening the military resources of the allies against future threats. .
Strengthening the Alliance’s deterrence and defense capabilities is one of the main themes of the summit, which brings together the 31 current members to consider a review of the military organization model and new regional plans, a plan whose relevance was strengthened by the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Started in February of last year.
The summit will also serve to discuss the strengthening of investment by the allies, to respond to this plan, as well as to meet the needs of Ukraine in its war effort.
NATO Secretary General, Jens Stoltenberg, has insisted on the idea that the allies must commit to a minimum of 2% of the Gross Domestic Product in Defense and not as “a ceiling”, having already appealed to the 31 members to have “political courage”. ” to increase defense spending and increase weapons production to continue supporting Ukraine.
Ukraine’s NATO membership should also be included in the discussion on the expansion of the Alliance, after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky increased pressure on the allies to make an unequivocal declaration of acceptance of his country’s membership, as soon as the Russian troops leave the territory.
Source: TSF
