Jens Stoltenberg expects summit allies to deliver a "strong message" on Ukraine's membership.
Ukraine may receive an invitation to NATO membership with the agreement of all member countries of the Alliance, but not during the summit in Washington .
The Secretary General of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Jens Stoltenberg said this on July 10 at a briefing in Washington at the Alliance summit on the occasion of the 75th anniversary of its founding.
Jens Stoltenberg emphasized that Ukraine will become a member of the Alliance, but it is too early to talk about dates.
Not an invitation to NATO, but a “substantial package of five elements”
“I expect the allies to agree on a substantial package consisting of five elements,” Stoltenberg said.
Among these components, the Secretary General named the NATO command structure to provide security assistance and military training for Ukraine, as well as a long-term commitment to continued ongoing support for our state.
Also, according to the NATO Secretary General, we are talking about new announcements about the provision of immediate support, in particular, about air defense assets, and about new bilateral security agreements that individual NATO allies will conclude with Ukraine.
At the same time, NATO intends to increase efforts to bring the Armed Forces of Ukraine into full compatibility with the armies of the Alliance – including through the work of the new Ukraine-NATO center for analysis, preparation and training in Poland.
“Together, these five elements provide a strong bridge to Ukraine's membership in the Alliance, and I am confident that allies will recommit Ukraine to NATO membership,” Stoltenberg said.
What will be announced at the summit in Washington
However, he refrained from commenting on the conclusion on Ukraine’s membership in NATO at the summit in Washington until “the allies’ statement has been agreed upon.”
“Negotiations are ongoing right now. I am confident that we will agree on a statement later today,” Stoltenberg said.
The Secretary General emphasized that in order to invite Ukraine to membership, it is necessary to obtain consensus in NATO, but it is too early to say when exactly Ukraine will become a member. He added that the Alliance is working together with Ukraine to bring it ever closer to NATO membership.
Air defense for Ukraine: “the allies are working hard”
Separately, he recalled that Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky in April addressed NATO about strengthening Ukraine’s air defense capabilities.
“We promised to work hard on this. And the allies are working hard… Now we have announcements from President Biden and several other allies since yesterday that they will be able to deliver five new advanced strategic air defense systems “, said Stoltenberg.
In particular, these five air defense systems should be delivered by the USA, Italy, Romania, the Netherlands and Germany. We are talking about the Patriot and SAMP/T systems. Ukraine will also receive more tactical air defense systems, including NASAMS.
▶ On the TSN YouTube channel you can watch the video at this link: Zelensky did not come to the opening of the NATO summit! But Ukraine was not deprived!
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