NATO Summit Concludes: Ukraine's Membership Discussed
The NATO summit in Vilnius, Lithuania, held on July 11-12, addressed Ukraine's aspirations to join the alliance, Meduza reports.
While member countries agreed to simplify Ukraine's accession process on the first day, they refrained from extending a formal invitation. Allies emphasized that Ukraine's invitation would come when all block members consented and certain conditions were met by the official government in Kyiv. Notably, the summit's statement did not specify a timeline for Ukraine's potential membership, as previous discussions indicated it would only occur after the resolution of the ongoing conflict.
President Volodymyr Zelensky attended the NATO summit on July 12. He arrived in Vilnius on July 11, where he joined a rally alongside Lithuanian President Gitanas Nausėda before participating in the summit on the second day. Zelensky took part in the inaugural Ukraine-NATO Council meeting, established based on the Ukraine-NATO Commission, which had been in existence since 1997. The session was attended by leaders of NATO member states, including key allies such as the United States and the United Kingdom. Zelensky expressed that the council's establishment gives Ukraine a sense of being part of the alliance. Throughout the day, Zelensky held numerous meetings with NATO leaders, including President Joe Biden.
The G7 countries issued a statement guaranteeing security for Ukraine. The G7 nations committed to providing military and financial support, continuing intelligence sharing, and pledged swift action in the event of Russia launching any further attacks following the resolution of the ongoing conflict. The countries also vowed to work with Ukraine on specific bilateral long-term commitments and security agreements. Speaking alongside Zelensky and G7 leaders at the summit,
"Our support will endure long into the future. It's a powerful statement of our commitment to Ukraine", President Biden stated.
Prior to his arrival in Vilnius, Zelensky criticized NATO countries for their "indecisiveness" regarding Ukraine's membership. He found it "unprecedented and absurd" that there were no clear timelines for Ukraine's invitation. In response, UK Defense Minister Ben Wallace suggested that Ukraine should express more gratitude for Western assistance. Wallace recounted spending 11 hours traveling to Kyiv in 2022, only to be handed a shopping list of necessary weaponry upon arrival.
Zelensky, speaking at a press conference following his meeting with Joe Biden, acknowledged Ukraine's gratitude for assistance and humorously remarked that he was unsure how else to express gratitude, suggesting the minister should provide guidance on the matter.
President Volodymyr Zelensky declared that Ukraine gained a "great positive" from the NATO summit in Vilnius, highlighting the support received and the clarity that Ukraine would ultimately become a NATO member. While uncertain about the exact timing, Zelensky believed that once security situations stabilize, Ukraine would join the alliance based on the support and statements from each leader in the Ukraine-NATO Council meeting.
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