US Ambassador to NATO: No Short-Term Invitation for Ukraine Membership Now

During an online briefing for journalists, US Ambassador to NATO Julianne Smith discussed Ukraine's potential accession to the Alliance, stating, "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."

Smith emphasized that NATO remains committed to Ukraine's future membership, noting that discussions are currently underway to facilitate this process. "This summer, NATO stated that Ukraine will inevitably become a member of the Alliance," she added.

Earlier, it was reported by Reuters citing Nataliia Galibarenko, Kyiv's ambassador to NATO, that 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. 

Ukraine’s President Zelenskyy presented his Victory Plan at the Verkhovna Rada on October 16, stressing the end of the war depends on Ukraine’s partners and not on Russia’s leader Vladimir Putin.