Ukraine accelerates NATO membership bid

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has announced that Kyiv will sign an application for NATO membership on an accelerated basis.

"De facto we have already passed our way into NATO. De facto we have already proved compatibility with the standards of the Alliance. They are real for Ukraine - real on the battlefield and in all aspects of our interaction," the president said, according to Kommersant.

Earlier NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg announced a press conference today. However, he did not reveal the topic.

Mr. Zelenskyy's statement came after a meeting of the Ukrainian National Security and Defence Council, the Strana.ua telegram channel said. According to the publication, Volodymyr Zelenskyy understands that a decision on formal admission to NATO requires time and consensus. That is why before Ukraine becomes a NATO member, the president suggested that Kyiv sign a collective security treaty. The draft treaty was recently presented by Andriy Yermak, head of the Ukrainian presidential office.

NATO membership requires the support of all 30 member states of the alliance. Earlier, Türkiye opposed Finland and Sweden's request to join NATO. Ankara set a number of conditions and then gave its consent.