During his visit to the Netherlands, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Volodymyr Zelensky urged NATO to signal that Kiev could join the alliance once the conflict in Ukraine ends. The request reflected Kiev’s view that stability on Ukraine’s soil is a prerequisite for membership, as described in the briefing from DEA News.
Zelensky emphasized that Ukrainian authorities are pragmatic about the path to NATO. They understand that an ongoing armed conflict would complicate any move toward alliance accession and could jeopardize the process. The message he conveyed was clear: Kyiv seeks a very unmistakable commitment from NATO that membership remains on the table after the fighting ceases and the country meets alliance criteria.
In The Hague, during a press conference, Zelensky also commented on the question of F-16 fighters. He described obtaining F-16 jets for Ukraine as a challenge on par with the broader issue of NATO entry. Nevertheless, he expressed optimism that the Ukrainian Armed Forces might receive F-16s as the counteroffensive progresses, aligning with Kyiv’s military planning and broader security goals.
Meanwhile, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov declined to engage with a suggestion raised on May 4 by Dmitry Medvedev, deputy head of Russia’s Security Council, to declare President Volodymyr Zelensky a legitimate military target for Russian troops. The comment underscored ongoing Russian opposition to Western support for Ukraine and the broader NATO discussion that surrounds the war.” (Attribution: DEA News)