Regarding NATO Membership, President Zelensky Calls Support in the Form of Rhetoric Not Enough

Lithuanian President Gitanas Nausmenda, President of Volodymyr Zelensky, President Andrzej Duda. (Source: President.gov.ua)

JAKARTA - Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky urged the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), to do more than its 'open door' promise for Ukraine at a July summit this year, saying Kyiv needed 'strong steps' to join the military alliance.

Kyiv requested fast-track NATO membership last September, seven months after Russia invaded Ukraine. Nato says it has an open door policy to Ukraine, but has not said whether that will accelerate moves toward a possible accession of Kyiv.

Such a move would likely offend Moscow, turning NATO into a hostile military bloc bent on encroaching on Russia's influence.

"For today, only support for Ukraine from colleagues in NATO and support in the form of rhetoric about open doors is not enough for Ukraine. Namely, it is not enough to motivate our country ... our army," President Zelensky said after receiving the President of Poland Andrzej Duda and Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda in Lviv, quoted by Reuters, January 6.

"We need a step forward. The decision will be in Vilnius, we are looking forward to strong steps, we are counting on something more than an open door," he told a news conference with the leaders of the two NATO member states.

Vilnius is the capital of Lithuania. He gave no further details, but a NATO summit in July this year is scheduled to be held in the city.

It is known, NATO leaders promised Ukraine in 2008, one day it could join the alliance, although member status is still far away. All 30 members of the alliance must give their consent, with some wary of how Russia will react.

On the same occasion, Polish President Andrzej Duda said Warsaw plans to send Leopard tanks to Ukraine. Meanwhile Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda said Vilnius would also "continue to provide defense assistance to Ukraine".

Separately, Ukraine's Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said on Twitter he had discussed preparations for the July summit with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg on Wednesday, underscoring the importance of providing Ukraine with Western-type tanks.