Zelenskyy demands for 'concrete guarantees', security for Ukraine from NATO chief

Speaking at a joint conference in Kyiv during visit of NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg, Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Thursday said while he values alliance's support during ongoing Russian aggression, he would want NATO to do more than just military and financial assistance. Stoltenberg during presser on Thursday said that he supports Kyiv to become part of defensive military Alliance, but ded that  main focus at this time is to help Ukraine prevail in face of Russian aggression.

“We need something more than kind of relationship we are having now,” Ukraine's President Zelenskyy said at joint press conference. 

“We will be in ir alliance, we believe that is a guarantee of Ukraine’s security and a concrete guarantee," he ded. 

Security guarantees of Ukraine to be discussed in Vilnius 

Zelenskyy stated that while Kyiv awaits membership of NATO and that it is yet not a member, "we want to have very specific guarantees of security approved in Vilnius, if re is an opportunity to do that n we will be rey on our side.” Ukrainian President, however, did not elaborate on of guarantees that he sought for his country as war continues unabated in contentious eastern Donbass. 

NATO has an open-door policy, implying that any country can submit an application to join bloc but it is subject to approval by all of its 31 member states. Accession rules for US-led military Alliance suggest that any member can veto request if applying nation fails to meet set standards. This includes "demonstrating a functioning democratic political system based on a market economy” and “ fair treatment of minority populations,” according to NATO website. 

Ukraine has not yet been incorporated into bloc as it is at war with Russia. This would mean immediate invocation of Article 5, dragging Defense Alliance into direct confrontation with Moscow's forces. Article 5 of NATO treaty states that an attack on one member is an attack on all, and obligates entire alliance to come to attacked country's aid. On Zelenskyy's request, Stoltenberg said Ukraine’s NATO membership and security guarantees will be “high on agenda” during summit scheduled for July in Lithuanian capital of Vilnius. He, however, did not comment on accession.