Stoltenberg: Ukraine To Join NATO When Allies Agree And Conditions Are Met

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg has told reporters at the NATO summit in Vilnius, Lithuania, that Ukraine will become a member of NATO, "when allies agree and conditions are met."

• A NATO summit declaration, reported by Reuters, reads: "Today, we recognise that Ukraine's path to full Euro-Atlantic integration has moved beyond the need for the Membership Action Plan."
• "We reaffirm the commitment we made at the 2008 summit in Bucharest that Ukraine will become a member of NATO... We will be in a position to extend an invitation to Ukraine to join the alliance when allies agree and conditions are met."
• "Allies will continue to support and review Ukraine's progress on interoperability as well as additional democratic and security sector reforms that are required."
• Removal of the MAP, will significantly reduce political and economic reforms Kyiv must undertake to qualify for NATO membership but the statement declines to outline a clear timeline for accession and the process may take many years and will hinge of unanimity within the alliance. It is likely the statement will fall significantly short of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky's expectations.