Zelensky: Conditions of invitation to NATO being discussed in Vilnius without Ukraine

President Volodymyr Zelensky has said that the wording about the conditions of invitation, not even NATO membership, is being discussed in Vilnius without Ukraine.

He said this in a post on Telegram, Ukrinform reports.

“We value our allies. 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,” he wrote.

He stressed that this wording is about the invitation, 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,” Zelensky wrote.

The President added that uncertainty is weakness, he will openly discuss this at the summit.

As reported, the NATO summit is being held in Vilnius on July 11-12. Ukraine expects to receive clear security guarantees and a clear prospect of membership in the Alliance.