U.S. ambassador: Vilnius summit communique will look different than what was said in 2008

Ambassador Julianne Smith, the United States Permanent Representative to NATO, said this during an online press briefing on Friday, according to an Ukrinform correspondent.

"In the communique, we will be addressing Ukraine's membership aspirations and that is something that NATO allies continue to work on. But it is not just restating Bucharest, it will look different than what we said in 2008," she said.

She declined to get into the specifics of what the language in the communique looks like, as the document is being finalized. However, she said, if President Volodymyr Zelensky opts to come to the summit, he will see resounding support for Ukraine's relationship with the Alliance and will find himself holding a whole collection of concrete deliverables that "signals a longer-term commitment to Ukraine from the NATO alliance."

First and foremost, Smith said, the focus will be on reaffirming NATO support for Ukraine. In this context, she noted that there would be a "package of concrete deliverables" both in terms of longer-term practical assistance to the Ukrainian Armed Forces, particularly in matters of military modernization, and in terms of interoperability. In addition, joint work in the field of political relationship is expected.

In this connection, Smith recalled the creation of a NATO-Ukraine Council, in which an important part of the interaction will take place.

Photo: EPA