Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has frustrated that his country hasn’t been given a timeframe for joining NATO; “It’s unprecedented and absurd,” he says.
Zelenskyy is hoping to learn more about membership at an alliance summit in Lithuania.
“It’s unprecedented and absurd when (a) time frame is not set, neither for the invitation (to join NATO) nor for Ukraine’s membership. While at the same time vague wording about ‘conditions’ is added even for inviting Ukraine,” he wrote on the Telegram messaging app.
He says uncertainty over Ukraine’s NATO membership would mean “a window of opportunity is being left to bargain (over) Ukraine’s membership in NATO in negotiations with Russia.
“And for Russia, this means motivation to continue its terror.”
From MSN:
Arriving at the talks, President Emmanuel Macron said France would join Britain in supplying long-range cruise missiles to allow Ukraine to strike Russian targets in depth.
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Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov warned that Russia’s security could be jeopardized by Sweden’s imminent arrival in the alliance, and warned France over the delivery of SCALP missiles.
“From our point of view, this decision is a mistake with consequences for the Ukrainian side, because this will of course force us to take countermeasures,” Peskov said.
The fury emanating from Moscow and Kyiv stood in stark contrast to the message to Ukraine from NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, buoyed by Turkey’s decision to lift a veto on Sweden’s membership.
“We will send a clear message, a positive message on the path forward. The text in the communique will be made public within hours,” he declared.
#UPDATE A frustrated President Volodymyr Zelensky launched a furious broadside against Ukraine's NATO allies Tuesday as they began a summit still unsure how to advance Kyiv's membership bid.https://t.co/PqTpcD5VV9
— AFP News Agency (@AFP) July 11, 2023
