Speaking during a visit to Slovakia, the Ukrainian President assessed that there is no unity within NATO and this threatens the “strength of the alliance” as well as “security of the whole world ”.
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| Slovak President Zuzana Caputova and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. (Source: TASR) |
On July 7, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky called on the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) to resolve the issue of Sweden and Ukraine's membership, saying NATO's indecision is threatening the strength of the alliance and global security.
Mr Zelensky said Kiev expected "positive results or at least some steps towards positive results" at the upcoming NATO summit in Vilnius, Lithuania.
According to him, "Russia wants the world to show weakness and disunity in the alliance" so this must not happen.
In a NATO-related matter, on the same day, Slovak President Zuzana Caputova declared that Ukraine's future is in NATO.
The Slovak president expressed hope that at the upcoming summit, the military alliance will outline its vision for Ukraine's accession after the end of the Russia-Ukraine conflict. Ms. Caputova hopes that NATO will strengthen political and practical cooperation with Ukraine.
In addition, President Caputova announced that Slovakia and Ukraine will cooperate in the production of ammunition as well as a new type of howitzer, and that companies from this country will participate in mine clearance on Ukrainian territory.
According to her, Slovakia has provided Ukraine with a lot of military support, such as donating MiG-29 fighter jets, S-300 air defense systems, infantry fighting vehicles, helicopters and mine clearance equipment.
Slovakia is set to hold early parliamentary elections in September. Former Slovak Prime Minister and leader of the Social Democratic Party (Smer-SD), Robert Fico, is enjoying strong support. Fico opposes NATO’s admission of Ukraine. According to him, Ukraine needs security guarantees but should be a “buffer zone” between Russia and NATO. The politician also opposes supplying weapons to Ukraine in the current conflict.
After his visit to Slovakia, Ukraine's western neighbor, Mr. Zelensky is expected to travel to Istanbul to meet with Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan.
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