The President of Lithuania, Gitanas Nauseda, confirmed that the countries of the Alliance reached an agreement and decided to cancel the requirement for Ukraine to implement the Membership Action Plan on its way to NATO.
Nauseda said this at a press conference on Monday on the eve of the Alliance summit in Vilnius.
"I can say that the Membership Action Plan will be withdrawn, this is a very positive step forward. This will simplify Ukraine's path to NATO," the Lithuanian president said.
Nauseda emphasized that a very clear signal is also needed regarding the possibility of Ukraine's membership in NATO, when the conditions allow it.
"In this regard, we must go beyond the language of the Bucharest Summit, which speaks only of an 'open door'. Today, Ukraine needs very specific signals about the fact that when the conditions allow, it will become a member not only on paper, but in reality NATO", Nauseda added.
For his part, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg noted that consultations on the final decision of the summit are still ongoing.
"Consultations are ongoing and there will be other meetings today. But I am sure that all allies will agree on a very clear message regarding Ukraine. The final decision has not yet been made," Stoltenberg said.
Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said earlier on Monday that after a discussion, NATO member states agreed to cancel the Membership Action Plan for Ukraine on the way to joining the Alliance.
Earlier, Deputy Prime Minister Olha Stefanyshina added that the entire eastern flank of NATO, as well as a number of countries of Western Europe, are now in favor of inviting Ukraine to join.
