NATO Allies reached a consensus to remove the Membership Action Plan from Ukraine's path to joining the Alliance. This was announced by the head of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Dmytro Kuleba.
"After intensive negotiations, the NATO allies reached a consensus on canceling the MAP on Ukraine's path to membership in the Alliance. I welcome this long-awaited decision, which shortens our path to NATO," Kuleba wrote on Twitter.
According to him, this is the best moment to clarify the invitation to Ukraine to become a member of the Alliance.
The MAP is NATO's program for providing advice, assistance and practical support, which takes into account the individual needs of states that have declared their desire to join the Alliance. This is the "preliminary stage" of NATO membership, in which the applicant country receives an individual national program of preparation for future membership in the Alliance.
Finland and Sweden did not need it before the process of joining NATO began. During the NATO Madrid Summit in June 2022, both countries received an invitation to join the Alliance. On April 4, 2023, Finland completed the accession procedure and officially became a member of NATO. Sweden continues negotiations with Turkey on the ratification of the accession protocol.
