The US and Ukrainian leaders have reportedly agreed to get collectively in Vilnius as a present of unity
US President Joe Biden will reportedly maintain a one-on-one assembly with Ukrainian chief Vladimir Zelensky throughout this week’s NATO summit in Vilnius, Lithuania as an illustration of unity amid disagreements over the Western army alliance’s proposed safety commitments to Kiev.
The talks will probably be held on Wednesday on the sidelines of the NATO convention, a number of US media shops reported on Monday, citing an unnamed White Home official. “The assembly will mark an indication of unity, as Zelensky’s attendance on the summit had been in query,” CNN mentioned.
Media stories prompt earlier on Monday that the Ukrainian president may not attend the summit. Zelensky’s workplace has not confirmed his attendance, reportedly as a result of NATO members had not made clear what was being promised to assist Kiev in its battle with Russia.
Zelensky has mentioned it will be pointless for him to attend the NATO assembly except the alliance provided to let Ukraine be a part of the US-led army bloc or offered a transparent roadmap for Kiev’s accession.
“It might be an vital message to say that NATO just isn’t afraid of Russia,” the president mentioned in an ABC Information interview final week. “Ukraine ought to get clear safety ensures whereas it isn’t in NATO. Solely below these situations, our assembly can be significant.”
Whereas Zelensky has conceded that it isn’t possible for Ukraine to hitch NATO whereas the battle with Russia remains to be ongoing, members of the 31-nation alliance have differing views on whether or not they need to make concrete pledges about future accession. The US not too long ago argued that ‘Israel-style’ safety ensures could possibly be provided to Kiev as a substitute of a full-fledged membership.
Biden will seemingly focus on US safety ensures with Zelensky in Vilnius, White Home Nationwide Safety Advisor Jake Sullivan informed reporters on Sunday.
Ukraine won’t be prepared for NATO membership till the battle with Russia ends, and even past that time, Kiev will nonetheless have to make reforms earlier than it will probably be a part of the alliance, Biden mentioned in a CNN interview aired on Sunday.
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