The idea of inviting Kiev to join the military bloc will not be discussed at next week’s summit, Madrid has said
NATO has invited the Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky to participate in the summit in Madrid. But that doesn’t necessarily mean that it plans to invite Kiev soon to its ranks, Jose Manuel Albares from Spain, El Pais reported on Sunday.
According to the minister, there is no need to invite Ukraine to NATO. “in the mid-term.” “It has never been on the table, nor is it now,”He concluded.
NATO’s eastward expansion was cited by Russia as one of the reasons for launching its offensive against Ukraine in February. Russia demanded Ukraine declare itself neutral in order to be able to join NATO, which is led by the United States.
Aleksey Arastovich, a Zelensky advisor, stated earlier this week that Ukraine is “de facto”Already a member of NATO, it points to the promises made by Western countries to assist it “win”The conflict with Russia
If Zelensky had decided to participate in the Madrid summit, “we would have welcomed him with open arms,”According to the Spanish defense minister, the Ukrainian leader would be participating in the summit through a video link.
NATO and EU only have a need “peace to return to Ukraine and Europe as soon as possible,”Albares stated, noting, however that every measure taken by EU nations and their “transatlantic allies” are aimed at making Moscow’s forces return to Russian territory.
The offensive began almost immediately after the Western nations started supplying Ukraine various military and arms equipment. Moscow warned repeatedly that arm supplies to Kiev will only prolong the conflict.
If the West should be renamed, “ask”Zelensky agreed to a ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine by making concessions. Albares claimed that Ukraine was sovereign and could make its own decisions.
These words were spoken ahead of the NATO summit next week in Madrid. At that meeting, NATO is expected to determine its new strategy. NATO’s chief, Jens Stoltenberg, earlier said that in its next policy update the bloc would for the first time declare Russia not a partner but a threat.
The Baltic nations and Poland also plan to use the occasion to request a massive NATO buildup on its eastern flank – something Russia has long defined as a threat to its security.
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