July 11, 2023
Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky is in Vilnius for NATO summit. — courtesy EPA
In a communique, NATO said it recognized the need to move faster but would not be drawn on a timeframe.
Earlier Zelensky said there seemed to be “no readiness” to invite Ukraine to NATO or make it a member. He is now in the Lithuanian capital Vilnius, where the summit is happening.
Kyiv accepts it cannot join NATO while it is at war with Russia but wants to join as soon as possible after fighting ends.
At a briefing on Tuesday afternoon NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg said allies had reaffirmed that Ukraine would become a NATO member and had agreed to drop the procedural need for a formal membership action plan.
“This will change Ukraine’s membership path from a two-step process to a one-step process,” he said.
But Zelensky tweeted that the lack of an agreed timeframe meant his country’s eventual membership could become a bargaining chip.
“A window of opportunity is being left to bargain Ukraine’s membership in NATO in negotiations with Russia. Uncertainty is weakness,” he said.
His comments follow disagreement between NATO members on Ukrainian membership..."
Fired-up Zelensky attacks NATO compromise on Ukraine membership
Rob Harris
Updated first published
Vilnius, Lithuania: The leaders of the world’s most powerful military alliance are set to declare they are prepared for Ukraine to ultimately join the grouping but will not commit to a firm timeframe, in a move that has infuriated Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
NATO states have said Ukraine can join the military alliance “when allies agree and conditions are met” after Zelensky criticised the “absurd” delay to accession.
NATO states have said Ukraine can join the military alliance “when allies agree and conditions are met” after Zelensky criticised the “absurd” delay to accession.
Leaders of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation, an intergovernmental military alliance between 31 member states – 29 European and two North American – have converged on the Lithuanian capital of Vilnius for a two-day summit which will be dominated by Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
In a communique released on Tuesday evening (Eastern European Time), NATO said it recognised the need to move faster but would not be drawn on a timeframe.
Earlier, Zelensky said there seemed to be “no readiness” to invite Ukraine to NATO or make it a member. He accepts his country cannot join NATO while it is at war with Russia but wants to join as soon as possible after fighting ends..."
In a communique released on Tuesday evening (Eastern European Time), NATO said it recognised the need to move faster but would not be drawn on a timeframe.
Earlier, Zelensky said there seemed to be “no readiness” to invite Ukraine to NATO or make it a member. He accepts his country cannot join NATO while it is at war with Russia but wants to join as soon as possible after fighting ends..."
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