On Thursday evening, NATO ministers will discuss Ukraine’s victory plan with the President of Ukraine.
21:27•Updated 21:28
Ukraine appeals to NATO countries to become a member of the defense alliance as quickly as possible.
– In practice, we are already part of NATO, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyi told the media in Brussels, after listing the anti-aircraft weapons received from NATO countries that protect the skies of Ukraine.
Ukraine is trying to get NATO behind its victory plan. Zelenskyi presented the plan on Thursday first to EU leaders and in the evening to NATO defense ministers. One of its central parts is Ukraine’s desired invitation to NATO membership.
The NATO countries have discussed their attitude towards Ukraine’s wishes.
– Ukraine has the weapons to fight in the war. And it becomes a member of NATO, the Secretary General Mark Rutte quoth.
However, the invitation will probably not be issued anytime soon. Most of the NATO ministers have avoided answering the question directly.
According to Zelensky, Ukraine has no other choice but NATO. In the 90s, Ukraine gave up its nuclear weapons and received security commitments from various countries in return. However, since Russia attacked, there are no alternatives.
– Putin never stops, he admires war, Zelenskyi says.