Zelenskyy Advocates for NATO Unity in Support of Ukraine
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy emphasized the critical need for unwavering unity among NATO members in support of Ukraine during a press conference held on Thursday, following his meeting with the alliance’s Secretary-General. He remarked, “The strengthening of Ukraine does not solely rely on the type of weaponry we receive, but rather on our collective will.” Zelenskyy further asserted, “If our partners maintain their unity, we will not falter.”
NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte responded positively, assuring Zelenskyy, “We will not lose that unity,” reinforcing that Ukraine can depend on NATO’s steadfast support. The Ukrainian president has been actively advocating for his comprehensive five-point “victory plan”, which aims to encourage Russia to engage in negotiations to bring an end to the ongoing conflict.
However, a significant aspect of this plan could potentially cause hesitation among Western allies: it includes a formal invitation for Ukraine to join NATO while hostilities are still ongoing. Rutte acknowledged this ambition, stating that Ukraine will indeed become a member of the alliance “in the future,” though he refrained from specifying a timeline for this potential membership.
During a NATO summit in Washington in July, the 32 member nations declared that Ukraine was on an “irreversible” path toward membership, yet they have not determined a concrete date for when this will occur. In addition to his discussions with NATO leaders, Zelenskyy also took the opportunity to meet with European Union leaders in Belgium as part of a wider diplomatic tour aimed at promoting his victory plan.