Lithuanian Seimas calls on NATO countries to accept Ukraine into Alliance in 2024

The resolution states that Ukraine's membership in NATO "will strengthen the Alliance, be much more effective and cost less than the current support for Ukraine's self-defense," LTR reports.

"With Ukraine's full support through practical means, including NATO's political support, it would be right to invite Ukraine to join NATO," the document says.

"We hope that what could not be done in Vilnius will be achieved in Washington in ten months," said the chairman of the Seimas Foreign Affairs Committee, Žygimantas Pavilionis. 

He stressed that if Ukraine's membership in NATO is not secured, there is a threat of a "bad peace" that will affect Lithuania's security.

The resolution states that Ukraine's membership in the Alliance is supported by "the vast majority of society".

"Inviting Ukraine to become a NATO member state will clearly confirm that Russia has no veto over NATO enlargement and cannot create 'grey' security zones in Europe," the document says.

It is worth noting that on 14 September, Lithuanian President Gitanas Nausėda expressed hope that Ukraine would receive the green light to join the Alliance at the NATO summit in Washington in 2024.

NATO summit in Vilnius

On July 11, the NATO Summit in Vilnius adopted a package of decisions on Ukraine: the Membership Action Plan stage is cancelled, and the country will receive an invitation to join the Alliance after fulfilling the requirements for accession and subject to the consent of all Allies.

The Allies agreed on a final communiqué on Ukraine and stated that they remembered the 2008 commitment that Ukraine would become a NATO member. The document also acknowledged that Ukraine's path to full Euro-Atlantic integration has now moved beyond the requirements of the Membership Action Plan. The member states stressed that Ukraine is becoming more operationally and politically integrated with the Alliance and has made significant progress on its reform agenda.  

On July 12, the G7 countries agreed on a joint declaration outlining the parameters of security guarantees for Ukraine. The agreement will be open to all interested countries.

The same day, President Zelenskyy said that the NATO summit had brought Ukraine's victory closer