Ukraine may join NATO under a simplified procedure

Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda said this at a press conference on the eve of the NATO summit in Vilnius, European Pravda reported.

I can say that the Membership Action Plan will be withdrawn, this is a very positive step forward. It will simplify Ukraine's path to NATO," the Lithuanian president said.

He also noted the need to send very clear signals about the possibility for Ukraine to join NATO, if conditions are favourable.

In this respect we must go beyond the language of the Bucharest Summit, which only speaks about an "open door". Ukraine today needs very concrete signals that if the conditions are allowed, it will not only become a member of NATO on paper, but in reality," added Nauseda.

However, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said that the alliance had not reached a final decision on Ukraine's invitation. The issue of the conditions under which Ukraine will be able to join NATO is being negotiated. Only after this will Ukraine receive an invitation.

The member states will consider Ukraine's aspirations to be a member of NATO and Ukraine's place in NATO's future, of course. I expect that we will agree that the promotion can be even without the MAP aspects. And we will extend an appropriate invitation to Ukraine and to join the Alliance when NATO members agree that the conditions meet the necessary needs," Stoltenberg was quoted as saying by RBC-Ukraine.

The secretary-general said that "the allies will step up support for Ukraine to bring it closer to NATO. This will be manifested in close cooperation, a multi-year support package, assistance in the transition of the Armed Forces to equipment to NATO standards.

We will ensure full interoperability of the AFU with NATO member countries. We will also include support for demining, fuel and lubricants, medical equipment. We will increase our political ties. President Zelenskyy will join us at the inaugural meeting of the new NATO-Ukraine Council, - Stoltenberg said.

We shall remind you that the NATO summit will take place in Vilnius on 11 and 12 July 2023. US President Joe Biden said on the eve of the summit that Ukraine was not ready to become a full NATO member and should wait until the war is over.

Earlier Sotsportal wrote about whether Ukraine should expect an invitation to join the alliance and what to expect from the Vilnius summit.