Jens Stoltenberg recognized Ukraine’s place in NATO, but at the same time expressed doubt that Kyiv will receive an invitation to the Alliance at the summit in Washington.
NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg invited President Vladimir Zelensky to the Alliance summit in Washington in July. He said this at a press conference in Kyiv on April 29.
“Today we discussed preparations for the July NATO summit. I look forward to welcoming you (Zelensky, – edit.) in Washington at this meeting. The allies agreed to plan to strengthen NATO’s role in coordinating security and training decisions for Ukraine,” Stoltenberg said.
He noted that Ukraine’s place is in NATO, and one day it will become a member, but at the same time expressed doubts that Kyiv will receive an invitation to the Alliance in Washington.
“To make this decision, we need the agreement of all the allies, we need a consensus, not a majority, that is, we need the agreement of all 32 members And I do not expect that we will have such an agreement at the summit in July. But I believe that we can show that we are bringing Ukraine closer to membership and we want it as soon as possible on the day Ukraine joins us as a full member,” Stoltenberg said.
According to him, work continues to ensure the intercompatibility of Ukraine and NATO, compliance with the standards of the Alliance, so that one day, when “the political conditions are met, Ukraine can become a member immediately.”
Zelensky believes that the NATO summit in Washington “may or may not be a moment of strength for the Alliance.”
“It will decide whether the enemy of the Alliance will have the opportunity to veto the strengthening of NATO. And it will definitely be decided on the issue about Ukraine and through our strength, and through our defense of common values, and by our importance for the future of the whole Euro-Atlantic,” – he emphasized.
Earlier, the head of the US State Department, Antony Blinken, announced that Ukraine is approaching NATO standards. At the end of November 2023, Kyiv, following the results of the Ukraine-NATO Council, received recommendations from the Alliance for joining the organization.
Source: korrespondent
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