Ukraine is now closer to NATO than ever before
on the sidelines of the summit NATO In Vilnius, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg confirmed Wednesday that Ukraine is now closer to the alliance than ever before.
This came during a joint press conference with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
“I look forward to the day when we meet as allies,” Stoltenberg told Zelensky, without disclosing further details about when Ukraine will become a member of NATO.
support the war effort
While he added that supporting the Ukrainian war effort against Russia remains the most urgent task for Western allies at the present time, despite the ongoing talks regarding Ukraine’s future accession to the alliance.
And he added, “Of course, guarantees, documents and council meetings are important, but the most urgent task now is to ensure that enough weapons are provided to Ukrainian President (Volodymyr) Zelensky and his armed forces.”
“after the war”
In turn, Zelensky announced that he was “confident” that his country would join NATO “after the ongoing war” with Russia.
He stressed during the press conference: “I am confident that Ukraine will become a member of NATO after the war. And we will do everything in our power to achieve this,” according to AFP.
not an “alternative”
While he welcomed the “security guarantees” that the Group of Seven decided to provide to his country, he stressed at the same time that these guarantees cannot replace Ukraine’s request to join NATO.
He stressed that “security guarantees are very important to the Ukrainian people, but they are guarantees for Ukraine towards its membership in NATO,” and not “a substitute for (joining) NATO.”
Long range weapons
In addition, he made it clear that his country needs long-range weapons to fight Russian forces in Ukraine, and that he will raise the issue in talks with his US counterpart, Joe Biden.
While he thanked Biden for the decision to provide Kiev with cluster munitions, saying that they are necessary for the defense of Ukraine and to help restore the territories controlled by Russia.
Long term commitment plan
It is noteworthy that the members of the Group of Seven present, on Wednesday, a plan of long-term commitments to the security of Ukraine on the second and last day of the NATO summit.
In response, consider The Kremlin Security guarantees from Western powers will “undermine Russia’s security and make Europe much more dangerous for years.”
