Zelensky moves to expedite Ukraine’s NATO membership as Russia annexes regions

Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky has applied to fast-track the country’s membership of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). 

Zelensky, who signed the NATO application papers on Friday, said the decision was taken in the best interest of the country.

“We are taking our defining step by signing Ukraine’s application for accelerated accession to NATO,” he said in a video.

“We have already made our way to NATO. We have already proven compliance with the alliance standards. They are real for Ukraine, real on the battlefield and in all aspects of our interaction.

“We trust each other, we help each other, and we protect each other. This is what an alliance is.

“Today, Ukraine is applying to make this de-jure, following a procedure that matches our importance to protecting our entire community.

“In an expedited order, we are taking our defining step by signing Ukraine’s application for accession to NATO in an expedited manner.”

Currently with 30 member-countries in Europe, NATO’s “purpose is to guarantee the freedom and security of its members through political and military means”.

Meanwhile, the development comes amid the illegal annexation of Luhansk, Donetsk, Zaporizhzhia and Kherson regions of Ukraine by Russia. 

The BBC had reported that in a voting process which has been described as “sham” by Ukraine and its allies, Russian authorities declared that the regions had voted widely to join Russia.  

Russia’s President Vladimir Putin formally held a signing ceremony on Friday to annex the regions, declaring “this is my land now”. 

This annexation means future attempts by Ukraine to reclaim them will be described as an attack on Russia.

Meanwhile, the move by Russia has received widespread condemnation, with US President Joe Biden saying the country will “never” recognise Russia’s claim on Ukraine’s territory. 

“The United States, I want to be very clear about this, will never, never, never recognise Russia’s claims on Ukraine sovereign territory,” Biden said.

Also, António Guterres, UN secretary-general, said the annexation of Ukraine’s territory by force violates the UN charter and international law, adding that “it is a dangerous escalation that has no place in the modern world”.