Furious Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky blasted NATO’s ‘unprecedented and absurd’ refusal to give Kyiv a timetable for joining the alliance.
He wants a clear expectation of when his war-torn country can sign-up to the Western military pact.
But his hopes are expected to be dashed with some countries instead providing ‘security assurances’.
Speaking as he travelled to Lithuania, Mr Zelensky said: ‘It’s unprecedented and absurd when a time frame is not set neither for the invitation nor for Ukraine’s membership. While at the same time vague wording about ‘conditions’ is added even for inviting Ukraine.
‘It seems there is no readiness neither to invite Ukraine to NATO nor to make it a member of the alliance.’
Kyiv applied for a fast-tracked membership last September. But under NATO rules it cannot join while at war – and some nations want it to implement political reforms before membership can be considered.
Mr Zelensky fumed: ‘Uncertainty is weakness, and I will openly discuss this at the summit.’
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said NATO had agreed Kyiv would not need a ‘membership action plan,’ a decision he insisted ‘shortens our path to NATO.’
NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg pledged Ukraine would get ‘a clear message, a positive message’ on membership.
He added: ‘Ukraine is much closer to NATO so I think the time has come to reflect that in other NATO decisions.’
Rishi Sunak urged allies to show ‘demonstrable progress’ on Ukraine joining the coalition.
The Prime Minister called on leaders to show Kyiv’s bid had moved forward since the organisation first agreed in principle in Bucharest in 2008 that Ukraine could one day join.
Speaking as he flew to Vilnius, he told reporters: ‘We’ve always said Ukraine’s rightful place is in NATO. We stand by the language of 2008 Bucharest and I think what’s important at this summit is that commitment is reaffirmed but also there is demonstrable progress towards that goal – and I think that’s what you will see.’
Asked if British support for Ukraine would be maintained if the war goes on for another five to 10 years, the PM insisted: ‘We are with Ukraine for as long as it takes.’
