Ukraine Leaves NATO Summit With Security Assurances, but No Clear Path to Membership

A day after he called NATO leaders “absurd” for failing to clarify a timeline for Ukraine’s long-deliberated entry into the 32-nation alliance, Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy was far more upbeat on July 12 as NATO’s two-day summit in Lithuania neared its conclusion.
He may not have secured the big win—advancing Ukraine’s stalled 2008 request to join NATO—but Mr. Zelenskyy will be returning to Kyiv with many stocking stuffers, including security guarantees from Group of Seven (G7) nations and a seat at the newly formed NATO-Ukraine Council.
“The Ukrainian delegation is bringing home a significant security victory for … Ukraine, for our country, for our people, for our children,” Mr. Zelenskyy said during a press conference with U.S. President Joe Biden and Japan Prime Minister Fumio Kishida to introduce a Joint Declaration on Support for Ukraine signed by all G7 leaders….}