Ukraine urges NATO invitation amid push to end war with Russia

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha has called on NATO to extend a formal invitation for Kyiv to join the alliance at its upcoming meeting in Brussels.

In a letter seen by Reuters, Sybiha argued that such a step would demonstrate Russia’s inability to prevent Ukraine’s NATO membership, a key goal of its 2022 invasion.

Ukraine acknowledges it cannot join NATO while at war but sees an invitation as a symbolic move to deter Russian aggression and reinforce Kyiv’s "victory plan," outlined by President Volodymyr Zelenskiy.

Zelenskiy proposed granting NATO membership to the part of Ukraine under Kyiv’s control, with the invitation applying to the country's internationally recognised borders.

However, NATO diplomats confirm a lack of consensus among its 32 member states for such a move. While NATO affirms Ukraine's "irreversible" path to membership, no formal timeline or invitation has been set, reflecting divisions among allies on how to proceed amid the ongoing conflict.