Zelensky at the press conference (AP)
Dubai – Al Arabiya.net
Posted on: July 07, 2023: 07:00 AM GST Last updated: July 07, 2023: 07:49 AM GST
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky called on NATO leaders to take concrete steps towards membership for Kiev at a summit next week, and received support during a visit to Prague from the Czech leader who backed Kiev’s bid to join the alliance.
Zelensky said in a press conference alongside his Czech counterpart, Peter Pavel, that his country needs much more than just the general declaration, which it obtained more than 10 years ago, that the door of the alliance is “open” to it.
“We are talking about a clear signal, and some concrete things towards an invitation. We need this motive. We need honesty in our relationship,” he added.
Zelensky also went on to say that the formula adopted by the NATO summit in 2008 is not sufficient. That formula states that the door to the military alliance “will remain open” and that Ukraine will eventually become a member.
“We need a… clear signal… that Ukraine will be in the coalition. Not that the door is open, that’s not enough,” Zelensky said in response to reporters’ questions.
summit in Lithuania
In turn, Czech President Pavel said, “It should be absolutely clear that it is in the interest of the Czech Republic that Ukraine, as soon as the war ends, begin negotiations to join NATO, because this is also in the interest of our security, regional stability and economic prosperity.”
It is noteworthy that during the summit that will be held on July 11 and 12 in Vilnius, the capital of Lithuania, Kiev is seeking to obtain a clear signal from NATO that it can obtain membership when its war with Russia ends.
Ukraine wants to join as quickly as possible, but NATO members are divided over the speed of taking such a step, with some countries concerned about moves that could bring the alliance closer to a de facto war with Russia.
Sofia declares her support
Television footage showed Zelensky arriving Thursday evening in Prague on board a Czech government plane, accompanied by two Air Force planes.
This came after a visit to Bulgaria for talks on security and the NATO summit.
Ihor Zovkva, Zelensky’s advisor, said Kiev had obtained Sofia’s support for becoming a member of the military alliance “as soon as circumstances permit.”
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#Zelensky #clear #indication #membership #NATO
2023-07-07 03:00:00
