Ukraine, represented by President Zelensky's chief of staff Andrey Yermak, presented a set of demands at the Copenhagen Democracy Summit. These demands include unrestricted access to Western weapons, additional aid from allies, and the release of all frozen Russian assets. Yermak highlighted the importance of allies spending at least 0.25% of their GDP on military aid to Ukraine and unlocking $300 billion in frozen Russian assets to bolster the country's defense.
The report, produced by the 'International Working Group on Security Issues and Euro-Atlantic Integration of Ukraine,' featured notable figures such as former British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, former US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, and former NATO secretary-general Anders Fogh Rasmussen. Yermak's call for lifting all restrictions on the supply of conventional weapons to Ukraine was reiterated by Rasmussen, who also emphasized the need for NATO to invite Ukraine to its Washington summit this summer. The report suggested setting a clear timeline for Ukraine's NATO membership, proposing a deadline of no later than July 2028, contingent on specific conditions being fulfilled.
The issue of Ukraine's NATO membership is a contentious point between Ukraine and Russia, with the latter strongly opposing Ukraine's accession to the alliance. Despite Ukraine's longstanding desire for NATO membership, the formal invitation has not materialized, leading to frustration on the part of Ukrainian officials. Additionally, Ukraine has been pushing for access to Russian assets frozen by the US and its allies since the conflict began in 2022, with Washington favoring confiscation while the EU has displayed hesitancy due to potential Russian retaliatory actions.
0 Comments
Name
Comment Text