Kyiv, Ukraine - Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has called on NATO to invite Ukraine to join the Western military alliance, urging for fast-track membership. Zelenskyy made the appeal during a joint news conference in Kyiv with NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg, who had made an unannounced visit to the Ukrainian capital on Thursday.
While speaking to reporters, Zelenskyy disclosed that he had received an invitation to attend the next NATO summit scheduled for July, but his administration was seeking full NATO membership for Ukraine. The Ukrainian president's call for NATO membership came as expectations rose over the timing of Ukraine's much-awaited counteroffensive against Russian strikes.
According to the Deputy Defense Minister, Hanna Maliar, Ukrainian forces have already begun some counteroffensive actions, and there would be no single preemptive announcement that a counteroffensive is to begin. Factors believed to have delayed the launch include the weather, as Ukraine is emerging from its seasonal muddy period, and the need for more Western weapons supplies and equipment.
Zelenskyy's appeal for full NATO membership for Ukraine follows the ongoing tensions between Ukraine and Russia over the annexation of Crimea and the ongoing conflict in eastern Ukraine. The Ukrainian government has been seeking support from Western nations and international organizations such as NATO to bolster its defense against Russian aggression.