Ukraine is seeking to receive an invitation to join NATO before US President Joe Biden leaves the White House, arguing that it would be a worthy legacy for the US president.
This was reported by Reuters, citing Nataliia Galibarenko, Kyiv's ambassador to NATO.
"Our idea is that giving Ukraine an invitation at this moment is a political signal," Galibarenko told Reuters.
Inviting Ukraine to NATO is one of the key points of Zelenskyy’s Victory Plan. Joining NATO would place Ukraine under the alliance’s defense pact, where an attack on one member is considered an attack on all.
"If we will say that the invitation is there, for the Russian Federation, it would be like a final verdict – so that's it, so you cannot raise the stakes using this topic anymore," Galibarenko said on Tuesday.
A senior US official, speaking anonymously last week, confirmed that Washington's stance regarding inviting Ukraine to NATO has not changed. Meanwhile, Galibarenko emphasized that Ukraine is not seeking an immediate start to membership talks, but a formal invitation would send a powerful message.
The 2024 US presidential election is set to be held on Tuesday, November 5. While former President Donald Trump, the Republican candidate, has not clearly outlined his stance on the war, Democratic nominee Vice President Kamala Harris has expressed ongoing support for Ukraine, though the extent of that commitment remains unspecified.
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