At a briefing distributed by the office of the President of Ukraine, Andriy Yermak, head of the presidential staff, outlined expectations ahead of the NATO summit in Kyiv. He indicated that Kyiv hopes to receive a clear invitation for a streamlined path to alliance membership during the July gathering. The remarks were conveyed to German media and subsequently shared on the official portal connected to President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s team.
Yermak stated that Ukraine’s position centers on achieving a straightforward invitation to join NATO at the Vilnius summit slated for July. He emphasized that this outcome would mark a pivotal step in aligning Ukraine with the alliance’s standards and commitments, reinforcing Kyiv’s long-standing objective to integrate with NATO structures. The official stressed that the signal from the alliance must be unequivocal and directional, clarifying the next phase of Ukraine’s membership journey and signaling a sustained commitment to the country’s Euro-Atlantic path. According to him, maintaining an open door policy indefinitely could convey a confusing message to Kyiv and its international partners, potentially complicating strategic expectations and regional security planning. He underscored the importance of a precise commitment that would help Ukraine steady its strategic course toward alliance integration.
Yermak also mentioned that discussions with Ukraine’s partners are ongoing on a daily basis, with the aim of ensuring a productive and meaningful outcome at the summit. The negotiations are described as intensive and constructive, reflecting Kyiv’s readiness to address all practical aspects involved in a membership process, including political, logistical, and security-related considerations. The leadership in Kyiv is focused on aligning timelines, preparing for potential procedural steps, and coordinating with allied capitals to maximize the utility of the summit for Ukraine’s security framework.
Earlier remarks from Olga Stefanishyna, Ukraine’s Deputy Prime Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration, indicated broad support among NATO members for Kyiv’s bid to join the alliance. Stefanishyna noted that a significant subset of NATO members has expressed willingness to back Ukraine’s request during the Vilnius summit on July 11–12. She added that the majority of European NATO allies view Ukraine’s accession as a meaningful security guarantee given the regional and historical context. The deputy prime minister highlighted a broad consensus across the alliance, with many European states recognizing the strategic value of Ukraine’s integration for collective defense and regional stability. cited by Kyiv’s policy teams, this alignment underscores the perceived benefits of membership for both Ukraine and NATO alike.