Mark Rutte: NATO Summit in Vilnius Should Send a Signal that Ukraine's Future Lies With the Alliance

The Prime Minister of the Netherlands has said that the upcoming NATO Summit in Vilnius should send a clear signal that Ukraine will be accepted by NATO. 

He said this during a joint press conference with the leaders of seven NATO member states in The Hague.

"This will be a decisive summit. We have to give Ukraine a clear signal at the summit that its future is undoubtedly in NATO," Rutte said.

Also, according to the Prime Minister, the Alliance will continue to provide Ukraine with the necessary support to counter Russia's unprovoked bloody aggression for as long as it is needed.

This support includes bilateral arms transfers, humanitarian and financial assistance. As well as other necessary tools that will help bring the modern Ukrainian army up to NATO standards.

Answering journalists' questions about Ukraine's membership in the Alliance, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said that he was "absolutely confident that we will find common ground on how to address the issue of Ukraine's membership in the Alliance".

At the same time, the NATO Secretary General stressed that only NATO members and Ukraine can determine when a country can join NATO. Stoltenberg also stressed that there is no connection between the search for consensus in NATO and the still strong Russian lobby in some member states.

"This is not for Russia. President Putin does not have a veto on NATO enlargement," Stoltenberg said.

However, according to the Secretary General, the urgent task is still to ensure Ukraine's victory on the battlefield so that "President Putin does not win". That is why NATO members are focusing on providing the Ukrainian military with the latest weapons.

On 11-12 July, at the NATO summit in Vilnius, Ukraine wants to hear a clear plan for the country's accession to the bloc.

Earlier, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy repeatedly stated that he was aware of the concerns of some Allies about the possibility of Ukraine joining NATO while Ukraine is forced to defend itself against the Russian army. However, President Zelenskyy has also stressed the importance of a clear action plan for Ukraine's accession to NATO, emphasising the importance of such a step not only for Ukraine but also for the entire security system of the European continent.