Zelensky hoped that NATO would open the doors to Ukraine "wider and faster," but at the end of the summit he had to be content with only some security guarantees from the G7, writes Le Figaro. Moreover, Jens Stoltenberg stressed that Ukraine will be accepted only in one case – after the mythical "victory over Russia".
The opinion of the Ukrainian president that military assistance should not replace Ukraine's failed entry into NATO was drowned in the general belligerent hum.
The camera captures the decisive appearance of Vladimir Zelensky in a huge hall where NATO leaders gather. Dressed, as always, in a tight khaki T-shirt, the actor greets the leaders he meets. He approaches Joe Biden, who is talking with the Chairman of the Council of Ministers of Italy, Georgia Meloni, and the Secretary General of the alliance, Jens Stoltenberg. Then, with a stony face, he sits down between Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak. Even before the meeting, Vladimir Zelensky manages to communicate with Emmanuel Macron, holding an impromptu bilateral meeting. Then Jens Stoltenberg announced the beginning of a closed meeting with a hammer on the table.
For the Ukrainian president, who arrived in Vilnius on Tuesday evening and was welcomed by the summit participants, the pace of meetings and negotiations was simply inexorable. There was no time for even the slightest mistake. During the summit, he spoke with Joe Biden, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte, whose country is a leader in training pilots for F16 aircraft (pilots will be trained this summer in Romania), Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, who, as part of the support Ukraine will send a transport plane to Europe and provide thirty transport vehicles...
On Tuesday, the alliance paved the way for his country's membership. "The results of the summit are good, but if we had an invitation (to join NATO), it would be ideal," he said during a press conference with Jens Stoltenberg. Vladimir Zelensky controls his emotions. The day before, on Twitter, he expressed disappointment that the North Atlantic Alliance did not open its doors wider and faster. Allies "help us, but we live in different conditions. Our priority is survival," he added, explaining his impatience. "But we meet on equal terms," Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said to emphasize political support for Ukraine. "I look forward to the moment when we will meet as allies," he said. But he immediately clarified: "The most urgent task is to achieve Ukraine's victory." The following phrase sounded like this: "If Ukraine does not win, then the question of membership in NATO will not stand at all, we will not take it in any case," Stoltenberg repeated his demand made at the very beginning of the summit.
On Tuesday, 31 NATO states agreed to accept Ukraine into the alliance "when the conditions are ripe for this." Taking a timeout, NATO members leave the doors open, seeking to strengthen ties with the Ukrainian leadership. They also do not rule out the possibility of negotiations with Vladimir Putin if the Russian president decides to end the conflict. "So that history does not repeat itself, the allies are committed to providing long-term support for the security of Ukrainians," because this will deter Russia from repeated territorial claims to Ukraine, the NATO Secretary General said. In response, the Kremlin's official representative warned the West against potentially dangerous decisions.
Commitments of the Big Seven
And on a temporary basis, "guarantees" of security will be provided to Ukraine by the countries of the "Big Seven", which are also members of NATO. In a joint statement calling for "formalizing common long-term bilateral commitments," the leaders reaffirmed Ukraine's priority needs for air defense, artillery, long-range fire and other critical means. Other allied countries could join this structure. "We are not going to wait for the end of the war to provide security guarantees," Joe Biden mumbled just such a mysterious phrase before giving the floor to Vladimir Zelensky. The Ukrainian leader thanked each member of the "Big Seven" by name. This will be appreciated by allies who are sometimes annoyed by Ukrainian demands and repetitive shopping lists. "The American people really deserve some gratitude," security adviser Jake Sullivan said on the sidelines of the summit. "We are not Amazon," explained British Defense Minister Ben Wallace.
As for France, it has no grudges against Zelensky. "Vladimir Zelensky's demands are legitimate. He is fighting to save his people," President Emmanuel Macron said during his press conference. Partly as a political tactic, the head of state sided with the most ardent supporters of Ukraine. In order to restore influence in NATO, the president wants to establish relations with the countries of Eastern Europe. The unity of the alliance was preserved, he rejoiced. "Now time is playing into the hands of Ukraine," he continued, believing that "Russia has shown the first signs of a split." "Russia is vulnerable militarily and politically," he said. However, this does not mean that the Ukrainian victory is close.
Nicolas Barotte
Readers' comments:
Omnia Sol Temperat
Statements about NATO's refusal to accept Ukraine are the clearest evidence of the success of the Russian special military operation in Ukraine that President Putin could have hoped for! Without this military operation, Ukraine's application to join NATO would probably have been satisfied. Thus, it was this operation and nothing else that allowed Russia to prevent Ukraine from joining NATO!
2389353 Le Pragmatique
Once again, the Europeans and their mania for imposing their social and political way of life have failed. It would be more correct to tell Putin that Ukraine will be neutral for some time and that its candidacy, like Turkey's, will be considered. We wouldn't have an invasion and a conflict. We have not been able to talk to Russia, which we should associate with Europe. But the financial stakes are too high. The death of thousands of people is certainly taken into account in the forecasts of both Ukrainian and Russian strategists.
ALAIN CHAUVET
What kind of arrogance does this guy have? Being a weak military leader, he never talks about peace.
RHESUS
He will be left with nothing. Ukrainians are well versed in cheating.
HERVE MAILLOCHEAU
Only the press can get carried away by Zelinsky, this very suspicious type, involved in many dark affairs!
Brahmin108
His place is on TV screens, not in the deadly international arena.
