The head of Ukraine’s presidential administration, Andriy Yermak, reiterated calls for Kyiv to receive an early invitation to join NATO during a gathering with members of the international working group focused on Ukraine’s security and Euro-Atlantic integration. The discussion took place at the Munich Security Conference and was noted on the official site of President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s office.
During the sidelines of the conference, Yermak, joined by Anders Fogh Rasmussen, who previously served as NATO Secretary General from 2009 to 2014, met with the international working group to review Ukraine’s security needs and its path toward Euro-Atlantic integration. The statement from the meeting underscored several key points regarding Ukraine’s strategic priorities.
Yermak asserted that Ukraine not only seeks NATO membership but believes the alliance would also benefit from Kyiv’s early accession. The Ukrainian side emphasized that signaling a decisive stance by NATO members would be a strong message of commitment to Ukraine. He also highlighted the necessity of ensuring Kyiv receives adequate military equipment and ammunition to sustain its defense and security operations.
Earlier in February, Yermak spoke in a phone call with Jens Plötner, the German chancellor’s chief foreign policy and security advisor. In that exchange, the Ukrainian leader urged the European Union to accelerate military aid to Kyiv, stressing the urgency of timely support to counter ongoing threats.
Meanwhile, expectations and cautions around Ukraine’s path to NATO surfaced from several European leaders. Antonio Tajani, Italy’s foreign minister and deputy prime minister, has previously warned that rapid entry could be risky while Kyiv remains engaged in conflict with Moscow. Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte also remarked that Kyiv’s accession would be unlikely as long as the conflict persists, signaling the need for a stable peace process as a prerequisite to alliance membership.
On February 18, Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen spoke on behalf of other European states, indicating a willingness to transfer weapons and other resources to Ukraine in the near term, with a broader aim that extends beyond military aid. Frederiksen suggested that in the longer term, Ukraine’s integration into European structures, including NATO, would be a natural progression once the conflict is resolved and stability is restored.
Prior to these discussions, Zelensky had engaged with the United States Senate to review arms supply and security assurances for Ukraine, underscoring the ongoing emphasis on international support as Kyiv navigates its security challenges and pursuit of Euro-Atlantic integration. The conversations reflect a complex and evolving set of opinions among European partners about the timing, conditions, and implications of Ukraine’s potential NATO membership and the practical steps needed to bolster Kyiv’s defense capabilities while the conflict continues.