Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said that Kiev will apply to join NATO in an expedited manner. According to him, the Ukrainian authorities proved to the alliance that the country meets its standards. Zelensky made such a statement after Vladimir Putin signed agreements on the accession of the “LDNR”, Kherson and Zaporozhye regions to Russia.
“De facto, we have already gone our way into NATO,” Zelensky said. — De facto, we have already proven compatibility with the standards of the North Atlantic Alliance. 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 the North Atlantic Alliance. De facto. Today Ukraine is applying to do it de jure. By a procedure that will be consistent with our value for the protection of our entire community. On an expedited basis. We are taking our defining step by signing Ukraine's application for accelerated accession to NATO."