Joint press conference by NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg and the President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelenskyy at the NATO Summit in Vilnius, 12 July 2023.

The Secretary General praised the President, the Ukrainian people, the armed forces and the political leadership for their courage and determination since the beginning of Russia’s war. “NATO will continue to stand with you for as long as it takes,” he said.

The establishment of the NATO-Ukraine Council is part of a three-part package of support bringing Ukraine closer to NATO. The Council will act as a forum “where Ukraine and NATO Allies will meet as equals, hold crisis consultations, and jointly take decisions,” Mr Stoltenberg said.

The package also includes a multi-year programme of assistance to help the Ukrainian armed forces transition from Soviet-era to NATO equipment and standards and become fully interoperable with Allied forces.

Allies have also reaffirmed that Ukraine will become a member of NATO and agreed to remove the requirement for a Membership Action Plan. “This will change Ukraine’s membership path from a two-step process to a one-step process,” said the Secretary General, adding: “we will issue an invitation for Ukraine to join NATO when Allies agree that conditions are met.” This is “a strong, united message from Allies on your path to NATO membership,” he added.

Mr Stoltenberg further stressed the need for “credible arrangements” to be in place to ensure Ukraine’s security when the war ends, welcoming the plan of many Allies to commit to providing long-term security assurance to Ukraine. “This will help deter any future aggression from Russia after this war ends,” he said, adding that it complements the support provided by NATO.

“The decisions made here in Vilnius mark the beginning of a new chapter in the relationship between NATO and Ukraine. Today, we meet as equals. I look forward to the day we meet as Allies,” Mr Stoltenberg concluded.

🗣 | NATO Secretary General:

President Zelenskyy, dear Volodymyr,
Welcome to NATO, it is great to see you again.

Always a pleasure to meet with you.
And it is a true honour to have you here at the NATO Summit.

When President Putin invaded Ukraine last year,
he underestimated the bravery of the Ukrainian people, the courage of the Ukrainian forces, and the determination of the Ukrainian political leadership.

But he also underestimated the unity and strength of the NATO Alliance. NATO will continue to stand with you for as long as it takes.

NATO Allies have provided tens of billions of dollars in support over the past year. And now we have agreed a three part package bringing Ukraine closer to NATO.

A multi-year programme of practical assistance establishing a new NATO-Ukraine council, and the reaffirming that Ukraine will become a member of NATO and removing the requirement for the Membership Action Plan.

Our new multi-year programme of assistance for Ukraine will help you transition from Soviet era to NATO equipment and standards. And will make Ukraine’s forces fully interoperable within NATO.

The inaugural meeting of the NATO-Ukraine council will start in a few minutes. This is a forum where Ukraine and NATO Allies will meet as equals, hold crisis consultations and jointly take decisions.

Ukraine is now closer to NATO than ever before. Allies reaffirmed that Ukraine will become a member of the Alliance and agreed to remove the requirement for a Membership Action Plan.

This will change Ukraine’s membership path from a two-step process to a one-step process. And we will issue an invitation for Ukraine to join NATO when Allies agree that conditions are met.

This is a strong, united message from Allies on your path to NATO membership.

We must ensure that, when this war ends, there are credible arrangements in place for Ukraine’s security. So that history does not repeat itself.

I therefore welcome that many Allies will today commit to providing long-term security assistance to Ukraine. This will help deter any future aggression from Russia after this war ends.

And it complements the support provided by NATO.

The decisions made here in Vilnius mark the beginning of a new chapter in the relationship between NATO and Ukraine.

Today we meet as equals, I look forward to the day we meet as Allies.

And again, a very warm welcome to you.
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