KYIV (Reuters) – Ukrainian President Volodimir Zelensky announced on Monday his intention to call incumbent US President Joe Biden in the coming days to discuss Kyiv’s request to join NATO.
Speaking at a press conference alongside the head of German conservatives Friedrich Merz, visiting Kyiv, Volodimir Zelensky estimated that the subject should be discussed with the current tenant of the White House since the elected president, Donald Trump will not take office until January 20.
“I intend to call President Biden soon to discuss the issue of an invitation to join NATO,” he told reporters through an interpreter. “He is the sitting president and a lot depends on his opinion. Discussing this with Trump before he takes office doesn’t make much sense,” he added.
Last month, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiha sent a letter to his NATO counterparts urging them to invite Kyiv to join the Atlantic Alliance, the first step towards formal membership.
The NATO treaty emphasizes that the alliance is open to membership by any “European State likely to promote the development of the principles of this Treaty and to contribute to the security of the North Atlantic region”.
-“Interested” states, like Ukraine, must demonstrate their desire to join and wait in return for an invitation which must be accepted unanimously by NATO members.
If unanimity is achieved, membership negotiations can begin.
(Reporting Andreas Rinke in Kyiv, written by Thomas Escritt, French version Claude Chendjou, edited by Sophie Louet)
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