Some of Ukraine’s key allies including the Group of Seven countries will announce on Wednesday that they’re launching individual negotiations with Ukraine to offer bilateral security commitments to boost Kyiv’s defense capabilities and to deter further Russian aggression.
(Bloomberg) — Some of Ukraine’s key allies including the Group of Seven countries will announce on Wednesday that they’re launching individual negotiations with Ukraine to offer bilateral security commitments to boost Kyiv’s defense capabilities and to deter further Russian aggression.
The declaration will come on the sidelines of the second day of the NATO leaders’ summit in Vilnius, where the defense alliance agreed on package of measures aimed at deepening ties with Kyiv and underlining the alliance’s long-term support. The allies pledged multi-year assistance to Ukraine; created a new NATO-Ukraine Council, which will meet later Wednesday; and sped up the process that will allow Ukraine to join NATO.
US President Joe Biden will meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, who criticized the North Atlantic Treaty Organization on Tuesday for not having set a clear timeline for Ukrainian accession.
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All times local in Vilnius, CET + 1 hour:
NATO Needs to Do More on Ukraine’s Membership, Duda Says (9:42 a.m.)
NATO’s decision to invite Ukraine to join the alliance when its members agree and conditions are met “is absolutely not enough” for Kyiv, according to Polish President Andrzej Duda.
“It was hard for NATO to give a timeframe for membership considering there is a war and accession during the war is impossible,” Duda told reporters on Wednesday. But the path provided to Kyiv is clear and the decision has effectively been made, he said.
“I hope in a few years Ukraine will be a full member in our alliance,” Duda said.
Kallas Says Allies Should Be Ready to Let Ukraine in NATO Soon (9:42 a.m.)
Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas said there was frustration from the Ukrainian side over the words used in the final NATO statement, which fell short of offering a clear timetable for the country’s accession to the alliance.
“We were not saying Ukraine should join NATO while the war is ongoing, everyone understands that’s not possible,” Kallas told reporters on the doorstep. “But there are words we can use.”
Allies should be ready to allow Ukraine in the alliance as soon as an opportunity window oppens, according to Kallas.
–With assistance from Milda Seputyte, Justin Sink, Daniel Flatley, Arne Delfs, Selcan Hacaoglu, Niclas Rolander, Daryna Krasnolutska, Andra Timu, Kitty Donaldson and Piotr Skolimowski.
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