Lithuania’s president expressed optimism on Monday, stating that establishing a pathway for Ukraine’s NATO membership is an “achievable goal.” This comes as members of the military alliance have been discussing lesser security assurances ahead of a two-day summit this week. In an interview with CNBC’s Steve Sedgwick in Vilnius, Gitanas Nauseda mentioned that various interim security assurances would be deliberated upon during the NATO meeting, but he firmly believes that Ukraine belongs in the military alliance.
U.S. President Joe Biden and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz both echoed similar sentiments, emphasizing their readiness to provide security to Ukraine, with Biden specifically mentioning that Washington is willing to offer “the weaponry they need, the capacity to defend themselves.” Nauseda, however, clarified that while this could be considered as a temporary solution towards NATO integration, it is not a replacement for full-fledged membership in the alliance. He stated, “The final destination of Ukraine is to be in the family of NATO alliance.”
When asked about the possibility of Ukraine receiving a pathway to membership at the upcoming summit, Nauseda responded affirmatively, saying, “I think it’s an achievable goal and a very important one too.”
In September 2022, Kyiv applied for fast-track NATO membership in response to Moscow’s annexation of four Ukrainian regions during its full-scale invasion. However, Russian President Vladimir Putin has long considered NATO’s European expansion as a provocation.
NATO drops key membership requirement for Ukraine
Earlier Monday, Ukraine’s foreign minister, Dmytro Kuleba, announced that NATO had dropped the Membership Action Plan (MAP) requirement for Ukraine, which has been a major point of contention in the accession negotiations. Nauseda welcomed this development, stating that it would simplify and expedite the negotiations. He also expressed confidence that Ukraine would receive further pledges of support from NATO members during the summit.
NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg (L) and Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda speak to the media prior to the 2023 NATO Summit on July 10, 2023 in Vilnius, Lithuania.
Sean Gallup | Getty Images
It remains unclear whether Ukraine’s president, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, will attend the summit, as he previously stated that he would only do so if Kyiv were given a clear signal on accession to the alliance. However, Nauseda expressed hope that Zelenskyy would make an appearance, considering the escalating security risks on the eastern flank. Nauseda emphasized the need for decisions to strengthen the entire eastern flank due to the deteriorating security situation, including the apparent relocation of Russia’s Wagner forces to Belarus following their failed mutiny.
Another significant topic of discussion at the summit will be Sweden’s ongoing accession negotiations, which have faced opposition from Turkey over claims that Stockholm hasn’t done enough to crack down on Kurdish groups designated as terrorists by Ankara. In order to join NATO, countries require unanimous approval from the alliance’s 31 member states. Nauseda expressed optimism that a resolution could be reached with Turkey and Hungary, possibly as soon as Monday evening.
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