He thanked the leaders of NATO member states that support Ukraine's future membership in the Alliance.
“Within 48 hours of signing application to join NATO, 10 bloc countries supported Ukraine's membership in the Alliance – mostly countries that remember poisonous claws of ru-empire. We are grateful for the leadership and responsibility. History is being made today,” he wrote on Twitter.
Read more: NATO Secretary General Responds to Ukraine Application for Rapid Accession to the Alliance
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy made a surprise move on September 30 to apply for fast-track NATO membership, in response to Russia’s annexation of four regions of Ukraine.
NATO membership needs approval from all 30 members and Ukraine is unlikely to join anytime soon. Being a country already at war complicates the request.
The NATO countries in Central and Eastern Europe fearful that Russia could target them next if it isn’t stopped in Ukraine urged a response to the annexation. They published a statement on their websites Sunday saying: “We support Ukraine in its defense against Russia’s invasion, demand (that Russia) immediately withdraw from all the occupied territories and encourage all allies to substantially increase their military aid to Ukraine.”
It said the leaders “firmly stood behind the 2008 Bucharest NATO Summit decision concerning Ukraine’s future membership.” At the 2008 summit, NATO members welcomed Ukraine and Georgia’s aspirations to join, but declined to provide a clear timeline for the two countries’ possible ascension. Sunday’s letter didn’t mention a timeline, either.
Read more: Ukraine Applies for Rapid NATO Accession While putin States he Annexes Four Regions of the Country
