Ukraine to receive NATO invitation next year regardless of Vilnius summit, says Podolyak
Ukraine will receive an invitation to join NATO at the next alliance summit, in Washington D.C. in 2024, even if no invitation is issued during this year’s NATO summit in Vilnius, Lithuania Mykhailo Podolyak, advisor to the President’s Office, said on July 11.
Responding to the question from RFE regarding the likelihood of Ukraine receiving an invitation to join NATO at the summit in Washington next year if it doesn’t happen in Vilnius, Podolyak said: “There is a 100 percent probability of this happening.”
“Why? Because, I believe that by that time, Russia will have completely lost its subjectivity and will cease to exist as a country capable of waging any wars.”
“I’m delicately referring to the fact that Ukraine will have already won this war by that time. And undoubtedly, this will be historically recorded,” Podolyak said
Podolyak said that Ukraine, as a victorious country, will be a key member of NATO, given its experience and the size of its army.
The summit in Vilnius will bring together leaders from 31 NATO countries, including U.S. President Joe Biden, along with additional delegations from Japan, South Korea, New Zealand, Australia, Ukraine, and Sweden (Turkey has finally agreed to unblock Sweden’s membership).
Ahead of the NATO summit, Zelenskyy issued a scathing condemnation of NATO dithering on the membership prospects of Ukraine, saying this “motivates Russia to continue its terror.”
“We value our allies. We value our shared security. And we always appreciate an open conversation,” Zelenskyy wrote on Twitter on July 11.
“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 NATO member, not about Ukraine’s membership. It’s unprecedented and absurd when a time frame is not set neither for the invitation nor for Ukraine’s membership.”
“This means that a window of opportunity is being left to bargain Ukraine’s membership of 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.”
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