Zelensky's Request to Western Countries: Take Concrete Steps for Ukraine's NATO Membership

Volodymyr Zelensky, the President of Ukraine, has urged Western countries to take concrete actions towards Ukraine's membership in NATO. Mr. Zelensky, who is visiting Bulgaria, called on them to take more tangible steps for Ukraine's membership ahead of the upcoming NATO summit. Russia attacked Ukraine in March 2022 under the pretext of Ukraine's efforts to join NATO. Although Ukraine initially denied such efforts, after the Russian attack, Zelensky explicitly called for Ukraine's membership in NATO. Following the war between Russia and Ukraine, Finland and Sweden also sought NATO membership. As NATO leaders meet next week, only Finland's request has been accepted, making it the thirty-first member of NATO, while Turkey still opposes Sweden's membership due to its harboring of certain 'Kurdish militants.' All NATO members must agree for a country to join. Earlier, the NATO Secretary-General stated that member countries had agreed on Ukraine's membership. Zelensky's remarks about joining NATO come as the Ukrainian army has recently launched its counteroffensive against Russian forces. Previously, U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin also spoke with his Ukrainian counterpart about the latest developments in the war and the continuation of U.S. security assistance to Ukraine. Britain has sanctioned 13 individuals and entities linked to the Islamic Republic. A company affiliated with Gazprom has sued two European banks. Ukrainian innovators are working to more effectively down Russian 'Shahed' drones. Ukraine expressed satisfaction with the recent counteroffensive against the Russians. Russia and Ukraine accuse each other of planning an attack on the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant.