Washington Post: Negotiations Between NATO Members to Discuss Ukraine's Accession to Alliance

"The Washington Post", a US newspaper, highlighted the intensification of negotiations between the members of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) to determine the next steps in Ukraine's path toward joining the alliance.

However, member states quickly scramble to try to bridge divisions over how to include Ukraine in the alliance's security shield while the war with Russia continues.

The newspaper pointed out that discussions are raging weeks before US President Joe Biden meets with NATO leaders in the Lithuanian capital, Vilnius, to discuss plans to strengthen defenses against Russia.

The newspaper quoted officials in a number of NATO countries, speaking on the condition of anonymity due to the sensitivity of the issue, that there is a consensus among the 31 members of the alliance despite Kyiv's request to join the alliance.

But NATO will not issue an official invitation to Ukraine to join during the activities of the meeting. It will be held on the 11th and 12th of July.

The officials explained that the Eastern European countries of the alliance are pressing the rest of the member states to take concrete steps towards inviting Ukraine to join, including committing to a timetable for Ukraine's inclusion in the alliance.

Some experts recommend a decision to expand technical support provided by NATO to the Ukrainian army.