Ukraine鈥檚 President Volodymyr Zelenskiy attends a service commemorating victims of World War II at the Saint Peter and Paul Cathedral with Polish President Andrzej Duda, amid Russia鈥檚 attack on Ukraine, in Lutsk, Ukraine July 9, 2023. REUTERS
KYIV 鈥� President Volodymyr Zelensky said on the eve of the Nato summit that Ukraine will be part of the alliance and expects from the meeting an 鈥渁lgorithm鈥� for Kyiv to officially join it.
鈥淲e are still working on the wording, that is, on the specific words of such confirmation, but we already understand the fact that Ukraine will be in the alliance,鈥� Zelensky said late on Monday in his nightly video address.
鈥淎nd we are working to make the algorithm for gaining membership as clear and fast as possible.鈥�
European diplomats said Ukraine鈥檚 largest Western allies are still finalizing a joint framework that would pave the way for long-term security assurances for Kyiv, and may wait until the end of a Nato summit this week to announce them.
Negotiations among Nato聽members were ongoing over when and whether to issue a formal invitation, what conditions Ukraine would have to meet and how its progress should be tracked.
Zelensky said the Vilnius summit must confirm Ukraine is already 鈥榙e facto鈥� a member of Nato as it has its weapons and shares values with the alliance.
鈥淓ven if different positions are voiced, it is still clear that Ukraine deserves to be in the alliance,鈥� Zelensky said. 鈥淣ot now 鈥� there is a war, but we need a clear signal. And we need this signal right now.鈥�
U.S. President Joe Biden will meet with Zelensky one-on-one at the summit, a U.S. official told Reuters, although Zelensky is yet to officially confirm his participation in the 31-member alliance meeting in Lithuania on Tuesday.
On Monday evening, Zelensky said only that Ukraine will hold a number of bilateral talks on the summit鈥檚 sidelines on more weaponry deliveries to Kyiv, including with the U.S., European countries, Canada and Japan.