One of the subplots in the summit’s run-up is whether Zelenskyy will attend.
The Ukrainian leader has said he sees “no point” in going to the summit if Kyiv is not given a “signal” at the meeting. His chief of staff said this week that Zelenskyy would decide on the eve of the summit whether or not to go.
His absence would overshadow any show of Western unity at the summit. The West has poured in vast amounts of military and financial assistance to help Ukraine hold its own against Russia’s February 2022 full-scale invasion.
But not turning up would also deprive Kyiv’s leadership of valuable face time with the leaders of Ukraine’s staunchest backers.
The final outcomes of major summits are typically the product of long-running negotiations and are often finalised shortly before the summit formally begins.
“If there is no result at the Vilnius summit, he doesn’t have reason and time to go,” said Zhovkva.
Asked what the threshold was for Zelenskyy to attend, Zhovkva cited a speech to parliament in which the Ukrainian leader spoke of the importance of courage in today’s world.
“The president will not travel … to the summit if the leaders will tend to or will show a deficit of courage, while Ukraine with all its courage, will and strength and high morale is fighting against Russian aggression,” he said.
Zhovkva pointed to the cases of Finland and Sweden who applied for membership last year. Finland has already since become a member.
“When Finland and Sweden submitted an application for membership last year, immediately in June last year the allies responded to the application … inviting them to membership with NATO,” he said.
Asked how close Ukraine was to receiving an invitation now, he said: “We are closer than we were half a year ago. And still some time is left; much time is left in reality …”
Source: CNA
