NATO countries ask Zelenskyy not to pressure them into Ukraine's swift accession - The Telegraph
Kyiv should not expect a membership offer at this year's summit, with the US and Germany the biggest opponents
President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy has been asked not to demand that NATO states invite his country to join the North Atlantic Alliance this year.
The British newspaper The Telegraph reports, citing sources.
No steps towards Ukraine's accession will be taken at the next NATO summit in July because of fears that the allies could be drawn into a war with Russia, the newspaper writes.
The Telegraph writes that Germany and the United States are against offering Kyiv a clear timetable for joining NATO at the two-day summit in Washington.
These countries ‘are very sceptical about Ukraine's further progress towards full NATO membership this year,’ a source familiar with Washington's position on the issue said.
‘The US may not be as worried as Germany, but they are worried about the threat from Russia to the rest of the alliance,’ he added.
In preparation for the July summit, which will celebrate NATO's 75th anniversary, Ukraine's partners have warned Volodymyr Zelenskyy not to demand ‘the impossible’ from the alliance, the newspaper added.
According to the newspaper, the summit will offer the Ukrainian president what is being called a ‘bridge’ or ‘path’ to NATO membership as a sign of support for the process, but refuse to talk about timelines.
NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg and the North Atlantic Alliance have repeatedly stressed their support for Ukraine as it defends itself against Russian invasion and have said that NATO's doors are open to it.
In February 2024, Stoltenberg said that Ukraine was closer to NATO than ever before. At the same time, NATO refuses to name a possible date for Ukraine's accession to the organisation.
Read more about how Ukraine should demonstrate its readiness to join the military alliance in the article by expert Mykhailo Zhyrokhov ‘When to join NATO? or Plans of NATO member states for Ukraine’.
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