20 NATO member states support Ukraine's integration into the Alliance

As of today, 20 NATO member states fully support Ukraine's integration into the Alliance.

This was stated by Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal during the United News telethon, Ukrinform reports.

"Today, 20 NATO allies fully support Ukraine's integration into the Alliance. And this is the absolute majority. Of course, we have to do our homework and hold talks with all other allies to have an absolute consensus. This is not an easy task, but we are all working on it: The President and the government," Shmyhal said.

He expressed hope that at the summit in Vilnius, Ukraine will receive clear and specific messages on when and how it will become a NATO member.

"And it will not be in some unknown future perspective, but there will be specific deadlines in the near future. We understand what we want, and we communicate this very directly with our partners," the Prime Minister said.

As reported, since the beginning of Russia's invasion of Ukraine, NATO and its allies have continued to provide Ukraine with substantial political, economic, humanitarian, and military assistance. Continuing and increasing such assistance will be one of the main topics during the meeting of NATO Heads of State and Government to be held in Vilnius on July 11-12.

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said at a recent press conference that NATO allies agree that Ukraine will become a member of the Alliance, but will not consider formally inviting it to join during the Vilnius summit.

He noted that the decisions taken during the Vilnius summit will bring Ukraine closer to NATO.

At all levels, the Ukrainian side emphasized that the assurances that "Ukraine will become a member of the Alliance" that was made during the Bucharest NATO Summit in 2008 are no longer enough.

Instead, Ukraine is asking its NATO allies to provide security guarantees and a clear perspective of moving towards full membership in the Alliance.

Author - Serhii Kolomiets, 23/06/2023