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NATO expected to sidestep Ukraine's call for quick invite

03 December 2024 14:38 (UTC +04:00)

NATO is highly unlikely to heed Ukraine's call for a membership invitation at a meeting on Tuesday, according to diplomats, dashing Kyiv's hopes of a political boost as it struggles on the battlefield and awaits Donald Trump's return to the White House.

In a letter to his NATO counterparts ahead of the meeting, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha said an invitation would remove one of Russia's main arguments for waging its war - namely, preventing Ukraine from joining the alliance.

But there is no sign of the required consensus among NATO's 32 members for such a decision at the foreign ministers' meeting in Brussels, said diplomats, speaking on condition of anonymity.

"It will take weeks and months to get consensus," a senior NATO diplomat said on Monday. "I don't see that happening tomorrow, I would be very surprised."

A senior U.S. official said the meeting would focus on surging support for Ukraine so it was in the strongest possible position next year, "going into possible negotiations".

"The best way to do that is to surge money, munitions and mobilisation," said the official, speaking on condition of anonymity.

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Monday announced a new weapons package for Ukraine worth $725 million.