Zelensky suggests NATO should initiate mechanism for accelerating Ukraine's integration Alliance

"We are preparing for new steps that will increasingly combine Ukrainian defense experience, our strength, and the strength of the entire Euro-Atlantic community. The decision of NATO member states to initiate a mechanism for accelerating Ukraine's integration into NATO would be most effective and consistent with reality and our defense potential as was the case with Sweden and Finland," Zelensky said during a press conference following the 2nd Lublin Triangle Summit in Lviv, Ukrinform reports.

He noted that Ukraine has the full support of Lithuanian and Polish partners for Euro-Atlantic integration and expects "tangible progress" in this area at the Vilnius NATO Summit already this year.

"As for Vilnius [where the NATO summit will be held in July this year], simply supporting Ukraine and simply supporting us in the form of ‘open doors’ rhetoric is not enough for Ukraine, namely, it is not enough for the motivation of our state, to be more precise, it is not enough for the motivation of our soldiers. That's why we need steps forward... The decision will be in Vilnius, we really expect powerful steps, we expect something more than just ‘open doors’, so this will be an important signal," the Head of State said, answering a question about his expectations from Vilnius NATO Summit.

Zelensky added that, for example, the prospect of EU membership motivates Ukraine and society.

As reported, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky meets with President of Poland Andrzej Duda and President of Lithuania Gitanas Nausėda in Lviv on Wednesday. The leaders held the 2nd Lublin Triangle Summit and signed a joint declaration.

On September 30, Ukraine signed an application for fast-track accession to NATO.

The next NATO summit will be held in Vilnius on July 11-12.

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