Correspondence from Vilnius// Ukrainian president criticized NATO for "uncertain" position towards Ukraine
On the way to the NATO summit, the president of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelensky, reacted to the behind-the-scenes discussions of the partners that instead of membership in the Alliance, only a few conditions for inviting Ukraine to NATO will be discussed at the summit, Radio Moldova's reports in Vilnius, Viorica Rusica, reports .
NATO allies are seeking a compromise that would both send Ukraine a public signal that it is moving closer to the alliance and placate allies — in particular Washington and Berlin — who are hesitant about making promises right now that would make post-war membership automatic.
But the Ukrainian leader, who is expected to attend the summit in Vilnius, is pushing for more. “We value our allies,” Zelenskyy tweeted. “But Ukraine also deserves respect.”
“It’s unprecedented and absurd when [a] time frame is not set neither for the invitation nor for Ukraine’s membership. While at the same time vague wording about ‘conditions’ is added even for inviting Ukraine,” he added.
NATO allies are seeking a compromise that would both send Ukraine a public signal that it is moving closer to the alliance and placate allies — in particular Washington and Berlin — who are hesitant about making promises right now that would make post-war membership automatic.
But the Ukrainian leader, who is expected to attend the summit in Vilnius, is pushing for more.
“It seems there is no readiness neither to invite Ukraine to NATO nor to make it a member of the Alliance,” he wrote. “This means that a window of opportunity is being left to bargain Ukraine’s membership in NATO in negotiations with Russia. And for Russia, this means motivation to continue its terror.”
U.S. President Joe Biden told NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg on Tuesday that he agrees “with the language you proposed relative to the future of Ukraine joining NATO.”
