Zelenskyy: NATO indecisiveness on Ukraine allows Russia to continue terror

Ukrainian President Zelenskyy has condemned NATO's hesitation on Ukraine's membership in the Alliance ahead of his visit to the NATO summit, which takes place in the Lithuanian capital Vilnius on 11-12 July. In a message posted on his Telegram account, he said that Ukraine values its allies, common security, and an open conversation. Yet, "Ukraine also deserves respect," he stated, condemning "signals" that wording of the exact formulation of Ukraine's future membership in NATO is being discussed. "This is wording simply regarding the invitation [to NATO], not mentioning Ukraine's membership. It is unprecedented and absurd to not have a timeframe for both the invitation (!) and Ukraine's membership, and when some strange formulations are added about 'conditions' even for inviting Ukraine," Zelenskyy said. The Ukrainian president refers to ongoing negotiations among NATO members, who on the eve of the summit had not yet agreed what sort of security guarantees would be offered to Ukraine, and how exactly it would be invited to the Alliance. "It looks like there is no readiness to invite Ukraine to NATO or to make it a member. This means that there is still an opportunity to bargain for Ukraine's membership in NATO in negotiations with Russia. And for Russia, this gives the motivation to continue its terror. Uncertainty is weakness. And I will discuss this frankly at the summit," Zelenskyy said. Following weeks of uncertainty, Volodymyr Zelenskyy confirmed he will arrive on 11 July for the NATO summit in Vilnius, Today, Zelenskyy’s participation in the NATO summit in Vilnius was finally confirmed after weeks of uncertainty; the Ukrainian leader earlier said he would not attend if NATO leaders would not offer Ukraine a clear path towards NATO membership. Kyiv hopes to secure an invitation to the alliance for Ukraine in Vilnius, along with security guarantees before its accession to NATO. Kyiv acknowledges that Ukraine's immediate membership is impossible while the war with Russia is still ongoing, but it hopes to secure a political decision that will move forward from the current status quo, expressed at the Bucharest summit in 2008, "NATO's doors are open for Ukraine."

Read more:

End of “partnership era”: what Ukraine wants from the NATO summit in Vilnius