On the eve of the NATO summit in Vilnius, an increasing number of NATO allies are expressing support for Ukraine’s accession. Portugal, in particular, has recently done so.
During a telephone conversation with Portuguese Prime Minister António Costa, Ukrainian President Zelenskyy signed a joint declaration of support for Ukraine’s membership in NATO.
This brings the total number of countries supporting the declaration to 23.
Portugal supports Ukraine’s NATO membership
The Republic of Portugal will continue to support Ukraine on its path to future membership and support Ukraine’s membership in NATO when the conditions are right. Ukraine and the Republic of Portugal look forward to addressing all these issues at the upcoming NATO Summit in Vilnius in July 2023.
– the declaration states.
Which nations supported Ukraine’s accession to NATO?
In addition to Portugal, 21 other NATO member states and Sweden, which is likely to become the next NATO member, have signed the declaration of Ukraine’s membership in the Alliance, as it still needs to obtain the approval of Turkey and Hungary.
The prospect of Ukraine’s membership in NATO has already been backed by the following Allies:
- Slovakia;
- Poland;
- Lithuania;
- Latvia;
- Estonia;
- Finland;
- Norway;
- Iceland;
- Canada;
- Denmark;
- Germany;
- Czech Republic;
- Romania;
- Montenegro;
- Slovenia;
- Italy;
- Netherlands;
- Belgium;
- France;
- Spain;
- Bulgaria.
In addition, on 7 July, during a meeting with Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Istanbul, Turkish President Recep Erdogan openly supported Ukraine’s accession to NATO, saying that Ukraine deserved it. However, no declaration was signed during the meeting.
