Speaking today at the European Political Community summit in Moldova, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky demanded that the NATO summit in Vilnius July 11-12 grant his country security guarantees and an immediate pathway to membership in that organization. An early edition of the Financial Times, quoted by RT, cited “people familiar with the matter” saying that Zelensky threatened to skip the NATO meeting unless his demands were met. A later edition of the FT omitted that part.
It did quote him yelling that “Ukraine is ready to be in NATO. We are ready for when NATO is ready…. We need all the unity through the alliance, and we are working on it. In Vilnius, a clear invitation to Ukraine is needed. Doubts must vanish! Positive decisions for Ukraine will be positive for everyone.” According to Ukrinform, he also demanded that “a clear positive decision” on Ukraine’s membership in the European Union is also needed.
