“Not what Zelensky wants to hear.” Ukraine to receive money from NATO, but the Alliance hesitates on the issue of an explicit invitation – Politico

Kyiv will receive money from NATO, but the Alliance does not respond to the call of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyi, Politico writes, analyzing Rutte’s reaction to the first point of Ukraine’s victory plan.

Yes, Rutte said that the Alliance will allocate 40 billion euros in military aid to Ukraine, but he could not say exactly when the country will be able to become a member of NATO.

“This is not what Zelensky wants to hear before his visit to Brussels on Thursday,” the newspaper writes.

The author of the publication emphasizes that Rutte avoided a direct answer to the call of the Ukrainian leader, saying that there are many aspects in his plan that require constant closed discussions between NATO countries and Ukraine. In this way, Mark Rutte only repeated the promise that there is a path for Ukraine to NATO membership “irreversible”.

Politico also emphasized that despite the announcement that Ukraine will be allowed to join the Alliance, there is still no actual invitation. Many NATO countries are concerned that the Alliance will find itself embroiled in a war with a nuclear-armed Russia.

Currently, the goal is to provide Ukraine with weapons and financial aid against the background of political uncertainty in the US, related to the presidential elections.

“As far as financial commitments are concerned, I am happy to report that we are firmly on track to deliver the 40 billion promised for next year as agreed in Washington,” Rutte was quoted as saying by Politico.

Rutte announced that NATO allies have allocated 20.9 billion euros in military aid to Ukraine in the first half of 2024 and are on track to meet their commitments by the end of the year.

At the same time, as the publication notes, while Ukraine’s partners are hesitating whether to give it permission to strike deep into Russia with Western weapons, Moscow’s allies are increasing their support. For example, there are reports that North Korean servicemen were sent to war in Ukraine to support Russia.

On Thursday, October 17, the President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelenskyi, will arrive in Brussels, where he will present the plan for Ukraine’s victory at the meeting of the European Council at the level of leaders.

“I will present the Victory Plan – our tool to force Russia to make peace. All European leaders will hear how we need to strengthen our position. We need to end this war justly,” Zelensky said while on board the plane on the way to Brussels.

On October 16, Volodymyr Zelenskyy presented in the Verkhovna Rada the details of the victory plan, which had already been presented to foreign partners. It consists of five points and three secret appendices and includes:

Ukraine’s invitation to NATO;

strengthening of defense;

containment of the Russian Federation;

strategic economic potential;

post-war point — the replacement of individual military contingents of the US Army in Europe by Ukrainian units.

According to the president, if the plan is implemented, the war in Ukraine can be ended by the end of 2025.