American NATO rep responds to Zelensky’s demand for urgent invitation

Joining the US-led military bloc is not a “short-term” matter, Julianne Smith, Washington’s permanent representative to the organization, has said

Kiev’s accession to NATO is not a “short-term” matter, Washington’s permanent representative to the US-led military bloc, Julianne Smith, said on Wednesday following Ukrainian leader Vladimir Zelensky’s demand for an immediate invitation.

Smith made the remarks at an online media briefing during which she said that the US-led bloc had already made its position on Kiev’s potential accession “very clear,” saying that “Ukraine is on an irreversible path of membership and that Ukraine will become a member of the alliance.” Its admission, however, is not something that can transpire in the near future, she conceded. 

“We are not at the point right now where the alliance is talking about issuing an invitation in the short term. But as always, we will continue conversations with our friends in Ukraine to talk to them about ways in which they can continue to move closer to this alliance,” she said.

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Zelensky presents ‘victory plan’

The statements come after Zelensky unveiled his long-hyped “victory plan” to the Ukrainian parliament on Wednesday. He recently toured Western capitals to discuss the plan with Kiev’s backers in private.

The plan turned out to be a new five-point wish list that includes a demand to immediately accept Ukraine into NATO. Kiev also wants the West to lift restrictions on the use of foreign-made long-range weapons for strikes against Russia, as well as to “deploy a comprehensive non-nuclear strategic deterrence package” on Ukrainian soil.