Norwegian Premier claims that Ukraine wont be getting NATO invite

(MENAFN) Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Store has indicated that NATO will refrain from extending a formal invitation for Ukraine to join the alliance during this year's summit in Washington. Instead, NATO will recognize Ukraine's aspirations for future membership in the United States-led military bloc, Store told reporters.

Speaking at the NATO summit, Store addressed speculation surrounding the summit's final communique, suggesting that while Ukraine's "irreversible path" towards NATO membership would be acknowledged, no invitation would be issued at this time. A leaked draft of the communique highlighted NATO's commitment to supporting Ukraine's integration into Euro-Atlantic structures, including financial aid amounting to EUR40 billion over the next year, mechanisms for military aid coordination, and ongoing support for Ukrainian forces.

The draft document, reported by Reuters, emphasized that any formal invitation for Ukraine to join NATO would depend on consensus among member states and the fulfillment of specific conditions. This approach mirrors language used in previous summits, including last year's gathering in Vilnius, which had also stopped short of extending a membership invitation.

Store further confirmed Norway's commitment to donate six F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine, a pledge first announced last August. The precise timeline for the jets' delivery was not disclosed earlier, and Store's remarks provide clarity on the upcoming support from Norway amidst NATO's broader strategic commitments in the region.

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