Ukraine should not expect NATO invitation at Washington summit — Diplomat Ohryzko

He stated it on Espreso.

Ohryzko noted, "This represents a departure from the less-than-pro-Ukrainian stance the United States took at the previous Vilnius summit, where they, along with Germany, blocked the idea of Ukraine's invitation to begin negotiations. While there won't likely be an invitation, this could be seen as a partial advancement."

He attributed this stance to US concerns about Russian retaliation, escalation, and the use of nuclear weapons against Ukraine. Ohryzko suggested that the US prefers not to confront Moscow's actions, adopting a wait-and-see approach, hoping for a resolution. However, he emphasized, "Unfortunately, the situation won't resolve itself. It's a continued ordeal for Ukrainians, but Ukrainians are not their own people; they're a foreign people."

Ohryzko anticipates that the Washington summit will mark the initial progress toward negotiations on Ukraine's NATO membership.

He stated, "It's likely to be a half of a step forward, but it’s more than nothing. Let's observe and proceed, as the next half of this step could be expected in the near future. However, this necessitates unequivocal support from our Western allies."

• Meanwhile, Baltic ambassadors in the UK have urged NATO to provide Ukraine with a clear path to membership, underscoring Ukraine's potential contributions to Alliance security.
• On April 1, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy convened a special meeting on NATO cooperation, focusing on compatibility and future prospects for 2024.