Zelenskyy to attend NATO Summit 2022 in June, confirms alliance's deputy secy Mircea Joane

In a key development, embattled Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy will be attending North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) summit taking place in Spain's Mrid in June, confirmed alliance’s Deputy Secretary-General Mircea Joane. NATO ministrator also said in an official statement that forthcoming summit would have in attendance alliance’s partners from Pacific, for first time. se members include  Australia, New Zealand, Japan and South Korea. 

Joane said, “Of course, NATO enlargement, and open-door policy will be an important topic of discussion. We hope that Finland and Sweden will join our ranks. And, of course, we must decide on Ukraine. President Volodymyr Zelensky will be present at our summit in one way or anor. in Mrid”.

Mrid Summit 2022 will be attended by Hes of State and Government from NATO's 30 member countries and key partners. As per reports, it is likely that Japanese Prime MInsiter Fumio Kishida would be country’s first leer to attend alliance’s summit.

NATO Deputy Secretary’s confirmation of Zelenskyy attending Mrid summit was me during a discussion organised by Politico. It also came just hours after Europa Press, citing sources in Spanish government, stated that Spain planned to send a formal invitation to Zelenksyy for summit in Mrid on June 29 and June 30. However, Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba h said that he does not expect positive decisions for Ukraine at meeting. 

It is pertinent to note that NATO has been facing increased calls from Ukraine for more assistance as Kyiv’s forces continue to resist Russian army for 107 days now. Russian President Vlimir Putin on February 24 announced 'special' military operation in Ukraine and what followed was full-scale army aggression and bombing of residential areas. Due to Russia-Ukraine war, nearly 14 million Ukrainians have been forced to leave ir homes, according to United Nations (UN). 

Russia h repeatedly condemned Ukraine’s prospects of joining US-ed military alliance in run-up to war. Kremlin h cited its own security concerns over NATO expanding more in Europe and earlier this year, tensions regarding alliance’s membership h prompted Moscow to ramp up its forces on border with Ukraine.  

NATO membership would have prevented war: Zelenskyy

Earlier last month, Zelenskyy h said that war with Russia would have been prevented if his country h been a member of NATO beforehand. While speaking at French University Sciences Po, Ukrainian President said, “If Ukraine h been part of Nato before war, re would have been no war”. 

Image: AP