No opposition to NATO membership at defense ministers' meeting, says Ukraine's Defense Minister

Ukrinform reported the informatiion.

"I can honestly say that there was no question about it. I anticipated a discussion on whether anyone wanted Ukraine to join, but that wasn’t the case. Everyone wants Ukraine to be a part of NATO," Umerov stated.

According to him, the discussion focused more on how to provide assistance immediately and the speed at which it can be delivered.

"These are internal issues, they will talk internally. But I didn't hear anything against it in the hall," commented the Defense Minister.

He emphasized that while the issue of Ukraine's accession to NATO has often been viewed as untimely, Ukraine should continue to advance its action plan.

"We have to live by our plan. We want to be a country in NATO, a country in the European Union, and I hope that in the future we will become a G20 country," Umerov added.

• Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy believes that inviting Ukraine to join NATO is a preventive step that will show that it is not Russian leader Vladimir Putin who is changing the course of the world, but the whole world is ready to change the aggressor.

• The White House said that there is currently no consensus among NATO member states to offer Ukraine an invitation to join the Alliance.