The concept of inviting Kiev to affix the army bloc won’t be mentioned at subsequent week’s summit, Madrid has mentioned
NATO has invited Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to participate in its upcoming summit in Madrid, however that doesn’t imply that the bloc plans to ask Kiev to affix its ranks any time quickly, Spanish Overseas Minister Jose Manuel Albares instructed the newspaper El Pais on Sunday.
The query of inviting Ukraine to affix NATO isn’t being raised, the minister mentioned, when requested if the army bloc would preserve its door open for Kiev to affix “within the mid-term.” “It has by no means been on the desk, neither is it now,” he added.
NATO’s eastward enlargement was cited by Russia as one of many causes for launching its offensive in opposition to Ukraine in February. The Kremlin demanded that Ukraine formally declare itself a impartial nation that may by no means be part of the US-led NATO army bloc.
Earlier this week, Zelensky adviser Aleksey Arestovich acknowledged that Ukraine is “de facto” already part of NATO, pointing to guarantees by Western nations to assist it “win” the battle with Russia.
Had Zelensky determined to participate within the upcoming Madrid summit personally, “we might have welcomed him with open arms,” the Spanish protection minister mentioned, including that the Ukrainian chief would ultimately take part within the summit by way of a video hyperlink.
The EU and NATO solely need “peace to return to Ukraine and Europe as quickly as potential,” Albares famous, including, nonetheless, that each one the measures taken by the EU nations and their “transatlantic allies” are geared toward making Moscow’s forces return to Russian territory.
Western nations have been supplying Ukraine with numerous arms and army tools virtually because the begin of the offensive. Moscow has repeatedly warned that arms provides to Kiev would solely extend the battle.
When requested if the West ought to “ask” Zelensky to succeed in a ceasefire with Russia by making some concessions, Albares mentioned that Ukraine was a sovereign nation and may make selections for itself.
His phrases got here forward of subsequent week’s NATO summit in Madrid, at which the army bloc is anticipated to outline its new technique idea. NATO’s chief, Jens Stoltenberg, earlier mentioned that in its subsequent coverage replace the bloc would for the primary time declare Russia not a companion however a risk.
The Baltic nations and Poland additionally plan to make use of the event to request an enormous NATO buildup on its jap flank – one thing Russia has lengthy outlined as a risk to its safety.
