Zelensky Hits Out at ‘Absurd’ NATO

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Tuesday confirmed he would attend NATO’s landmark summit in Vilnius, Lithuania, declaring that Kyiv should be treated with “respect” as allies debate the wording of a potentially divisive commitment to future Ukrainian accession.

The prospect of future Ukrainian NATO membership is looming over the meeting in Vilnius, with Ukraine and its stronger supporters urging allies to set out a concrete path to accession, most likely when the hot phase of the ongoing war with Russia ends.

NATO nations are seeking a fine balance in going beyond the vague commitment to future Ukrainian membership made at the 2008 Bucharest summit while avoiding the direct NATO-Russia confrontation that could arise from Kyiv’s accession in the midst of an active conflict with Moscow.

Zelensky, though, tweeted on Tuesday that it was “absurd” not to give Ukraine a time frame for prospective accession, even amid fighting with Russian troops and with no sign of any peace talks.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is pictured during a visit to the Patriarchal Church of St. George on July 8, 2023 in Istanbul, Turkey. Zelensky will attend this week’s NATO summit in Vilnius after a tour of allied capitals seeking to build support for Kyiv’s future membership. Hakan Akgun/ dia images via Getty Images

“We value our allies,” Zelensky wrote. “We value our shared security. And we always appreciate an open conversation. Ukraine will be represented at the NATO summit in Vilnius. Because it is about respect.”

“But Ukraine also deserves respect. Now, on the way to Vilnius, we received signals that certain wording is being discussed without Ukraine. And I would like to emphasize that this wording is about the invitation to become [a] NATO member, not about Ukraine’s membership.”

“It’s unprecedented and absurd when 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.”

“It seems there is no readiness neither to invite Ukraine to NATO nor to make it a member of the Alliance. 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.”

“Uncertainty is weakness. And I will openly discuss this at the summit.”

This is a developing story and will be updated as more information becomes available.