US Says NATO Will 'Lay Out Path' For Ukraine To Join Alliance As Leaders Gather In Lithuania: Report

NATO Summit 2023: Ukraine has been pressing NATO to lay a clear pathway to membership in the summit communique so that it can join soon after the war with Russia is over.

US President Joe Biden meets with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky at the Ukrainian presidential palace

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Ukraine's NATO membership bid and the Russian invasion of the country are expected to dominate talks as leaders gathered in Lithuania for a crucial summit of the military alliance, Reuters reported. The NATO received a shot in the arm after Turkey finally agreed to support Sweden's bid to join the alliance.

Before the NATO Summit, the White House said NATO would lay out a path of reforms for Ukraine so that it can eventually join the alliance, but without giving a "timetable", AFP reported.

"A reform path for Ukraine will be drawn up but I can't put a timetable on it," White House National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan told reporters at the summit in Vilnius on Tuesday. 

US President Joe Biden will meet Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky on Wednesday.

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Zelensky has been invited to attend the NATO Summit. The Ukrainian President has been pressing NATO to lay a clear pathway to membership in the summit communique so that it can join soon after the war with Russia is over.

During the summit, the leaders are likely to approve NATO's first comprehensive plans since the end of the Cold War to defend against any attack from Moscow, Reuters reported.

Moreover, some allies are likely to promise Ukraine new security guarantees to deter future Russian aggression. The summit will also see the 31 NATO members discussing the possibility of providing more weapons and ammunition to Kyiv.

US' decision to send the controversial cluster munitions to Ukraine, which has raised concern among some allies, may also come up during the meeting.

The NATO will also deepen its institutional links with Ukraine. The Ukraine NATO Commission is likely to be upgraded to Ukraine NATO Council, giving Kyiv the ability to summon meetings of the alliance as an equal partner round the table.

Apart from Ukraine, the NATO leaders are also expected to step up their financial commitment, making the target of spending two per cent of national wealth on defence a minimum figure, BBC reported.