NATO summit is missed window of opportunity for Ukraine – MP Synyutka

He expressed this opinion on the Espreso TV channel

"I see this NATO summit as a missed window of opportunity for Ukraine. I believed until the end that we would receive an invitation to join NATO, which would be limited by certain conditions. Very clear and specific conditions that could be fulfilled by Ukraine. After all, the NATO Membership Action Plan is just a list of steps that Ukraine has to take. Today we have received the worst of these options. We have received assurances that everything will be fine, but we have not received any plan or specific steps towards NATO membership," explained Synyutka.

The MP stressed that Ukraine must fulfil the main requirements for EU and NATO membership.

"However, everything is clear. Our allies require us to reform and promote democratic rights and freedoms. We are also required to fight corruption as a key element of joining NATO and the EU. However, I would like to go back to the time when we signed the Association Agreement with the EU and received visa-free travel. Back then, there were specific steps and conditions. Today, we do not see this," he added.

What is known about the NATO summit and Ukraine's accession to the Alliance

On July 11 to 12, a summit of NATO leaders was taking place in Vilnius. Meetings are held at the level of leaders and governments. For the first time, the summit is hosted by Lithuania. The events are taking place at the LITEXPO convention center. Thousands of military personnel provide security during the events, with Patriot and NASAMS air defense systems protecting the sky.

The meetings are attended by leaders of 31 NATO countries, including US President Joe Biden, and delegations from Japan, South Korea, New Zealand, Australia, Ukraine, and Sweden. In total, over 2,400 members of 48 foreign delegations, including up to 40 heads of state and 150 other high-ranking government officials, were expected to arrive in Vilnius. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is also attending the summit.

In particular, on July 11, the NATO summit in Vilnius adopted a package of decisions regarding Ukraine: the Membership Action Plan phase is canceled, 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. 

Volodymyr Zelenskyy was outraged by the existence of "conditions" for Ukraine to receive an invitation to NATO and said that it looked like "unwillingness to invite our country to the Alliance."

The Allies reached a consensus on a communiqué regarding Ukraine, reaffirming their 2008 commitment that Ukraine would eventually join NATO. The document further acknowledged that Ukraine's journey towards complete Euro-Atlantic integration has surpassed the benchmarks outlined in the Membership Action Plan. Member states emphasized Ukraine's increasing operational and political integration with the Alliance, as well as the notable advancements made in implementing reforms. Additionally, it was stated that NATO foreign ministers will conduct regular evaluations of progress through the Annual National Program.

Ukraine's Foreign Minister, Dmytro Kuleba, shared his response to the decisions made during the first day of the Vilnius NATO Summit. He expressed the belief that the Alliance should not postpone Ukraine's accession to NATO. 

Furthermore, he mentioned that NATO did not specify the conditions that Ukraine needs to meet in order to join the Alliance, and it remains unclear who should be responsible for formulating those conditions.

Volodymyr Zelenskyy commented on the results of the NATO summit and said that if Ukraine had received an invitation to join the Alliance, it "would have been ideal."

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