2023-07-11 19:32:20
While the NATO heads of state and government met in the conference center in Vilnius, Zelenskyj let supporters celebrate in the city. The Ukrainian President reiterated his demands – but NATO remains cautious.
On the fringes of the NATO summit, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyj called for Ukraine to join the military alliance in the Lithuanian capital Vilnius. “NATO gives Ukraine security. Ukraine makes NATO stronger,” said Zelenskyy in a square in the center of the capital, to the cheers of people waving Ukrainian flags.
Hope to join NATO
As Zelenskyy spoke of a stage set up in Vilnius for a concert, the Twitter tagline “#UkraineNato33” flashed behind him, alluding to Ukraine’s plans to become the 33rd member of the military alliance after Finland and Sweden. Zelenskyy said he started the journey believing in Ukraine’s partners and in a “strong NATO”.
“A NATO that doesn’t doubt, doesn’t waste time and doesn’t look back at any aggressor,” stressed the President, referring to Moscow. Russia also launched its war against Ukraine to prevent the country from joining NATO. The whole of Ukraine is waiting for the commitment to join NATO, stressed Zelenskyy.
Zelenskyj thanks Lithuanians
“The Ukrainian flags on the streets of Lithuania clearly prove that we are already allies and that Ukraine is defending its own and your freedom,” said Zelenskyy. He also thanked the Lithuanians for taking in many Ukrainian war refugees. Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda hugged Zelenskyj after his speech. The Ukrainian head of state was accompanied by his wife Olena.
This was followed by a singer singing the Ukrainian anthem – while a Ukrainian flag, which soldiers had brought from the embattled town of Bakhmut, was hoisted. At the end, to the cheers of the audience, the shout “Slava Ukraini!” – “Glory of Ukraine”.
Zelenskyy’s appearance was in marked contrast to the summit of NATO heads of state and government, which was meeting a few kilometers away at a conference center in Vilnius. They tied his hoped-for entry pledge for Ukraine to a number of conditions – including a stronger fight against corruption and the end of Russia’s war of aggression.
NATO membership is under discussion
At the two-day NATO summit in Vilnius, Lithuania, the members primarily discussed further relations with Ukraine. Kiev is pushing for a clear prospect of membership in the western defense alliance. For more than 16 months, Ukraine has been defending itself against the Russian invasion with Western help.
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