Zelensky criticized NATO for the «absurd» delay in Ukraine's membership

Zelenskiy and his wife Elena Zelenskaya arrive to deliver a speech at Lukiskiu Square in Vilnius, Lithuania, hosting a key NATO summit Photo: ODD ANDERSEN/AFP via Getty Images

Vladimir Zelensky called NATO «absurd» for refusing to offer Ukraine a timetable for joining a military alliance.

The Ukrainian president said he learned of the «unprecedented» decision on his way to NATO's annual summit in the Lithuanian capital of Vilnius.

He also accused NATO members of planning to use Ukraine's membership bid as a bargaining chip in negotiations with Russia, in the rare event of publicly attacking their closest allies.

In a long Twitter post, he wrote:

We value our allies. We value our common 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 have received signals that…

— Volodymyr Zelensky (@ZelenskyyUa) July 11, 2023

He seems to be referring to the debate among allies on how to formalize his position on future of Ukraine. membership when the summit ends tomorrow afternoon.

The draft communiqué currently under discussion «invites» Ukraine to join the alliance when «the allies agree and conditions are met,» the Financial Times said on Tuesday, citing sources who saw the text.

Mr. Zelenskiy says that he wants Ukraine to join NATO after the end of the current war to keep Russia from starting a new one.

He has previously stated that he will decline an invitation to attend the Vilnius summit unless significant progress is made towards this goal . protected.

Some prominent members of the alliance, including the US and Germany, have expressed reluctance to support such a move, in part because of the danger of being drawn into direct war with Russia.

People wave sunflowers and the Ukrainian flag as the president addresses the crowd. Photo: ODD ANDERSEN/AFP via Getty Images

Ukraine was first offered NATO membership in 2008 but never received membership. an action plan or any timetable to achieve the goal, largely because some allies feared alienating Russia.

Dmytro Kuleba, Ukraine's foreign minister, told the Telegraph last month that Kiev would not accept a repeat of this «false promise» . ” in Vilnius.

He said the minimum gesture Kiev expected was a promise to abandon the Membership Action Plan, a normally mandatory process for potential members that could take years or decades.

< p>Mr. Kuleba said on Monday that an agreement had been reached on Ukraine's refusal of the MAP.