Zelensky Aims for ‘Best Possible Result’ from Upcoming NATO Summit Despite Ukraine War

At the next NATO summit, where Kyiv is looking for a strong indication that it may one day join the alliance, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky expressed optimism for the “best possible result” on Sunday.

Zelensky said that he spoke with Andrzej Duda, his Polish counterpart, after their meeting, and the two decided to “work together to get the best possible result for Ukraine” as they discussed the summit, which starts on Tuesday in Vilnius.

One of NATO’s most ardent backers of Ukraine is Poland, which has said that it seeks “security guarantees” for the nation from other NATO members.

Zelensky has said that he does not anticipate Ukraine to formally join NATO until after the conflict, but he does believe the summit will send out a “clear signal” on the aim to admit Ukraine to the coalition.

US President Joe Biden said he hoped the military alliance leaders would “lay out a rational path for Ukraine to be able to qualify to be able to get into NATO” when he landed in Britain on Sunday on his way to the NATO meeting.

In his interview with the reporter, he said that there were “other requirements that must be met, including democratization.”

In the midst of a conflict, he said, “I don’t think there is unanimity in NATO about whether or not to bring Ukraine into the NATO family now.”

The NATO commitment to collective defense, according to Biden, would result in “war with Russia” if Ukraine were to be admitted at this time.

‘DESTRUCTIVE COURSE’

On Saturday, the 500th day of Russia’s full-scale invasion, Zelensky arrived from Turkey following a tour of the area to rally support before the meeting with Western partners, who have committed billions in military help.

Five senior officers from the Azov unit who were meant to stay in Turkey until the conclusion of the war as part of a prisoner swap agreement with Moscow followed him.

Their departure for Ukraine infuriated the Kremlin, which was described on Saturday by Russian news media as calling it “a direct violation” of the deal with Turkey.

According to a statement from the Russian foreign ministry, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan called with his Russian colleague Sergei Lavrov on Sunday and the two addressed the subject of the Azov commanders.

– THE NATO BID OF SWEDEN

The goal of Biden’s meeting is to put pressure on Turkey to end its opposition to Sweden’s almost-certain admission to NATO.

The White House said that Biden “conveyed his desire to welcome Sweden into NATO as soon as possible” in a phone chat with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Sunday.

Separately, Erdogan’s administration said that he will meet with Biden during the NATO conference in Vilnius.

According to the Turkish president, the discussions will center on “Ukraine’s position in NATO, Sweden’s membership in NATO, and the delivery of F-16” fighter planes that Turkey intends to get from the United States.

White House National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan told reporters on board the US presidential jet that Biden and Erdogan “will have the opportunity to sit down in Vilnius,” but he added that the timing was still being worked out.

Sweden’s entry into NATO, according to Sullivan, will happen “at the right time.”

“Great if we can finish it by Vilnius. That may or might not occur, he added.

Erdogan, according to the Turkish president, reiterated to Biden his long-standing view that Sweden must continue to take action against alleged Kurdish extremists in order to secure Turkey’s backing.

– RISK ‘FOR MANY YEARS’ –

Last Monday, Zelensky secured a US commitment for cluster weapons that might do serious harm to Russian soldiers.

Cluster bombs are outlawed in most of the globe, therefore Washington’s choice to equip Ukraine with them has generated much controversy.

Biden acknowledged that it had been “a difficult decision,” which was harshly criticized by humanitarian organizations.

According to Sullivan, Kyiv promised on Sunday to only deploy the weapons on Ukrainian soil “where they have the highest incentive to limit impact to civilians, because it would be Ukrainian citizens who would be at risk.”

On Sunday, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken also met with his Ukrainian colleague, who, according to Sullivan, “gave further assurances” about the usage of the cluster bombs.

Hun Sen, the prime minister of Cambodia, begged Ukraine not to deploy cluster bombs on Sunday as his nation continues to deal with the horrific aftereffects of conflict.

If cluster bombs are deployed in Ukrainian land that is under Russian occupation, Hun Sen tweeted, “it would be the greatest danger for Ukrainians for many years or up to a hundred years.”

The move was described as a “act of desperation” that would have “no effect” on the war by Russia, which used cluster bombs itself in the fight in Ukraine.