NATO leaders have asserted that Ukraine should be able to join the military alliance in the future but stopped short of offering Kyiv an immediate invitation, a situation which has angered President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
Africa Today News, New York reports that the leaders of the 31 member states had on Tuesday begun a two-day summit in the Lithuanian capital, Vilnius, on Tuesday as Ukrainian troops struggle to make significant gains in a counteroffensive against Russian forces occupying parts of their country.
The leaders said in a declaration that; ‘Ukraine’s future is in NATO’, however, they offered no timeline for the process.
‘We will be in a position to extend an invitation to Ukraine to join the alliance when allies agree and conditions are met,’ the declaration said without specifying the conditions.
NATO did drop a requirement for Ukraine to fulfil what is called a membership action plan, effectively removing a hurdle on Kyiv’s way into the alliance.
‘It’s unprecedented and absurd when a timeframe is not set, neither for the invitation nor for Ukraine’s membership,’ he wrote.
The NATO stance highlighted the divisions among its 31 members over giving a date or a straightforward invitation for Ukraine to join. Kyiv has been pushing for a swift entry, bound together with security guarantees, since even before Russia unleashed its full-scale invasion in February 2022.
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NATO members in Eastern Europe have backed Kyiv’s call, arguing that bringing Ukraine under NATO’s security umbrella is the best way to deter Russia from attacking again.
Countries such as the United States and Germany have been more cautious, wary of any move they fear could draw NATO into a direct conflict with Russia.
The NATO declaration said: ‘We reaffirm our unwavering solidarity with the government and people of Ukraine in the heroic defence of their nation, their land, and our shared values.’
In strong language towards Moscow, it said: ‘The Russian Federation is the most significant and direct threat to Allies’ security and to peace and stability in the Euro-Atlantic area.’
When quizzed about Zelenskyy’s criticism, NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said at a news conference: ‘There has never been a stronger message from NATO at any time, both when it comes to the political message of the path forward for membership and the concrete support from NATO allies.’
He said previous accessions to NATO had not been accompanied by a timeline. ‘They are conditions-based, have always been,’ he said.
Mindful of Zelenskyy’s disappointment over his hopes for a membership timetable, Western officials stressed that there would be a broader package of support proposals designed to give Ukraine a military edge over Russian forces.