At the July summit on Thursday night, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy called on the Western defense alliance NATO to pave the way for his country’s entry into the Western military alliance. He had previously hosted NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg in Kiev (video above).
Neither in Ukraine, nor in Europe, nor in NATO would the majority of the population understand if Kiev did not receive a “well-deserved invitation,” Zelensky said in his daily nightly video address on Thursday.
The meeting with Stoltenberg was not just about defending Ukraine, but about “defending the entire rules-based international order and protecting life,” the Ukrainian president said. Hardly anyone currently contributes more to Euro-Atlantic security than the Ukrainian soldiers. Kiev therefore “made every effort to ensure that our request was met”.
Several NATO countries are concerned
Several members of the alliance have reservations about Ukraine’s admission. NATO Secretary General Stoltenberg, on the other hand, during his surprise visit to Kiev, promised Ukraine further support in its efforts to join the military alliance.
“Ukraine deserves a place in NATO”
At a joint press conference with Zelenskyy, Stoltenberg said: “Ukraine deserves a place in NATO.” With the support of NATO, it will be able to take this place over time. He also referred to a support program for Ukraine’s planned NATO membership, which had been announced in early April.
The multi-year initiative should make it easier for the country to adapt to alliance standards and enable seamless cooperation with NATO. It is “a testament to NATO’s long-standing commitment to Ukraine,” Stoltenberg said during his visit to Kiev.
Source: Krone
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