NATO Summit To Announce Ukraine's Air Defense Improvement Assistance Including Membership Roads

JAKARTA - NATO countries will unveil plans for a "bridge" towards membership for Ukraine and announce steps to increase Kyiv's air defenses at next week's summit in Washington.

Sekutu will reaffirm that Ukraine's future is in NATO, and will make a significant new announcement on how we increase NATO's military and financial political support for Ukraine. This is part of Ukraine's bridge to NATO," US officials said.

US President Joe Biden will host leaders from 32 NATO members from Tuesday, July 9, in Washington.

Biden is expected to hold a single press conference that rarely occurs during the summit.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, who failed to lobby a political invitation to join NATO at his summit in Vilnius last summer, said a summit this year should resolve Kyiv's invitation to join.

Senior US officials describe the plan of bridge to membership' as a substantial plan that includes coordination of training, logistics and strength development.

"This is a very serious effort to put Ukraine in a position... ready to take on its role and responsibility in the alliance on the first day," the official said.

Zelenskiy is expected to attend the summit. Ukraine has sought to push back Russia's progress in Kharkiv's territory.

The senior American official also said the United States and several NATO allies would announce new measures to strengthen Ukrainian air defenses and military capabilities to help Ukraine continue to defend itself at this time.