PM: Ukraine expects answer in July on when it can become NATO member

At the July NATO summit in Vilnius, Ukraine expects to receive an answer to the question of when it will be able to become a member of the Alliance.

Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal said this at a press conference in Rome, an Ukrinform correspondent reports.

"I am convinced that Ukraine's accession to NATO will be an asset for NATO. We expect, of course, specifics from our partners at the summit and hope to get answers to the question of when Ukraine will become a NATO member. Of course, we ask for the support of Italy, Spain and all our partners, all those who support Ukraine in our struggle today," Shmyhal said.

He emphasized that the Ukrainian army is already fighting according to NATO standards and with NATO weapons.

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At the same time, the Prime Minister answered journalists' questions about Ukraine's readiness to consider China's "peace plan". He noted that our country has its own peace formula. It has already been made public by President Volodymyr Zelensky.

"We clearly understand our path to peace is the liberation of Ukraine within the 1991 borders. Providing guarantees to Ukraine from the international community, security guarantees. Only in this case we will be sure of a long-lasting stable peace on the European continent," Shmyhal emphasized.

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During the G20 summit, Volodymyr Zelensky announced a 10-point peace plan to stop Russian aggression. It provides for the coordination of international efforts to establish nuclear, energy, and food security. One of the key provisions of the plan is the withdrawal of Russian troops from the entire territory of Ukraine within internationally recognized borders.

As Ukrinform reported, Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal arrived in Italy on Wednesday, April 26. In Rome, he took part in a bilateral conference on the restoration of Ukraine, met with the President, the head of the Council of Ministers of the Italian Republic and the heads of the chambers of the Italian Parliament. Pope Francis received Shmyhal on April 27.