The heads of NATO’s nine European members on Sunday issued a joint statement endorsing Ukraine’s path to join the US-led security alliance and calling on all 30 NATO countries to increase military aid to Kyiv.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy made a wonderful resolution on Friday to call for accelerated NATO membership, in reaction to Russia’s annexation of 4 regions of Ukraine.
The NATO club will have to be approved by all 30 members and Ukraine is unlikely to register anytime soon. Being a country that is already at war complicates the demand.
The nine NATO countries in Central and Eastern Europe, fearing that Russia will attack them if it stops in Ukraine, have called for a reaction to the annexation.
The leaders of the Czech Republic, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, North Macedonia, Montenegro, Poland, Romania and Slovakia posted a message on their websites on Sunday saying: “We help Ukraine in its defense against Russia’s invasion, call on (Russia) without delay to withdraw from all occupied territories and inspire all allies to substantially increase their military aid to the US. “U. S. Ukraine.
He said the leaders “strongly resolved the NATO summit in Bucharest in 2008 regarding Ukraine’s long-term accession. “Rise of either country. Sunday’s letter also did not mention a timeline.
Asked Friday about Zelenskyy’s request to accelerate NATO membership, White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan said the application procedure in Brussels “should resume another time. “
NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg was evasive when asked about Zelenskyy’s call to join.
Dmitry Medvedev, deputy head of Russia’s Security Council chaired by Putin, scoffed at the decision, saying Zelensky’s request amounted to “begging NATO to push for the start of World War III. “
Spurred into action by security considerations similar to the Russian invasion, Finland and Sweden officially implemented an accelerated procedure for NATO membership in May. Most member countries have already ratified their candidacies and the two Nordic nations are on track to register in record time.
___
Follow AP of the war in Ukraine in https://apnews. com/hub/russia-ukraine
Top headlines via email, mornings of the week
Get the top Union-Tribune headlines in your inbox Monday through Friday mornings, adding the most sensitive news, local, sports, commercial, entertainment and opinion.
You may get promotional content from the San Diego Union-Tribune.
Privacy PolicyTerms of UseSubscribe to our newsletters
Follow