Is Ukraine preparing to become the 32nd member country of the military alliance? NATO leaders are meeting on Tuesday July 11 and Wednesday July 12 at a summit in Lithuania, where they will notably respond to Ukraine’s application for membership. On the way to Vilnius, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said he hoped “the best possible result”. Follow our live.
A candidacy far from achieving consensus. “I do not think that [l’Ukraine] be ready to join NATO”said Joe Biden in particular. Lately, Volodymyr Zelensky seemed to recognize that his country’s membership in NATO was unlikely before the end of the war. But the Ukrainian president, supported by the Eastern European countries, is counting above all on this summit to receive “security guarantees” from Westerners.
A European tour for Joe Biden. Ahead of this summit, the American president arrived in London on Sunday evening. His program is busy on Monday: meeting with Charles III at Windsor Castle then meeting with Prime Minister Rishi Sunak at Dowining Street. He is expected in Vilnius on Tuesday, before flying to Finland, a historically neutral country, which has just joined NATO.
Swedish membership still pending. Since May 2022, Turkey has blocked Sweden’s candidacy, Recepp Tayyip Erdogan reproaching him for his alleged tolerance towards the Kurdish community, considered as “terrorist” by the Turkish President. However, NATO considers it possible to obtain“a positive decision” from Turkey. Erdogan is meeting his Swedish counterpart today on Monday for final negotiations.