NATO Provides Ukraine with Formula for Joining the Alliance at Vilnius Meeting

At the meeting in Vilnius, NATO member countries will provide Ukraine with the formula for joining the North Atlantic Alliance. This was stated by the Deputy Minister of Defense of Ukraine Volodymyr Gavrilov, reports RBC-Ukraine, referring to the Ministry’s Telegram channel.

As Gavrilov notes, NATO member countries “will agree on a certain procedure for our entry which will be fixed”.

Zelensky admitted: Ukraine cannot join NATO now

According to the Deputy Defense Minister, despite the consensus decision-making mechanism and the right of veto, he doubts that “there will be big problems” with decision-making regarding Ukraine.

“There is every indication that Ukraine will get what it wants in a certain format… Even now, at the summit in Vilnius, Ukraine must clearly understand that after the war, say within a year or two, after carrying out certain procedures, we will be members of NATO”Gavrilov explained.

Ukraine wants a “clear decision” on its future in NATO

The summit in Vilnius is scheduled for July 11-12. According to the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Dmytro Kuleba, Ukraine hopes to receive a clear “timetable for acceptance” into the Alliance.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky believes that Ukraine is ready to join NATO and expects the readiness of the North Atlantic Alliance to accept it. At the same time, the member countries of the Alliance have different views on Ukraine’s membership, especially against the background of the war with Russia. Germany, for example, claims that the “open door policy” remains relevant, but Berlin is not ready to talk today about Ukraine’s membership.

Stoltenberg: Russia cannot veto Ukraine’s NATO membership

The media recalls that, as US Permanent Representative to NATO Julian Smith noted, the Alliance is unlikely to invite Ukraine to join NATO during the war. At the same time, the member countries of the North Atlantic Treaty are looking for an opportunity to demonstrate their long-term support for the country.