Kyiv [Ukraine], July 12: President Volodymyr Zelenskiy voiced disappointment that Ukraine was not invited to join NATO on Tuesday, telling supporters in the Lithuanian capital: "Is this too big of a wish?"
He thanked Lithuania for a "clear, honest and courageous position" in support of Ukrainian membership.
Shortly before the speech, NATO leaders agreed the alliance would extend an invitation to Ukraine to join the military alliance when "members agree and conditions are met."
Zelenskiy said earlier in the day it would be "absurd" if NATO leaders did not offer his country a timeframe for membership.
Speaking in Ukrainian, he told the crowd: "I travelled here today with belief in a decision, with belief in partners, with belief in a strong NATO, a NATO which does not doubt, which does not lose time, and does not look at any aggressor."
NATO members in eastern Europe have backed Kyiv's stance, arguing that bringing Ukraine under NATO's collective security umbrella is the best way to deter Russia from attacking again.
Countries such as the United States and Germany have been more cautious, wary of any move that they fear could draw NATO into a direct conflict with Russia.
During the speech, Zelenskiy said: "No one should ever, ever look back to Moscow."
Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda, who took part in the event, handed Zelenskiy a bullet-holed Ukrainian flag, which was then raised on a flagpole. The flag had flown on a Ukrainian tank during battles in Bakhmut.
It was brought to Vilnius by a group of 33 Ukrainian and Lithuanian runners in support of Ukraine as the potential 33rd NATO member. Activists asked the people of Vilnius to display 33,000 flags in their house windows to show support.
Security worries are real in Lithuania, where memories of Moscow rule are fresh and a military presence is light.
Lithuania, along with its Baltic neighbours Latvia and Estonia, were the last states to become part of the Soviet Union, when they were annexed in 1940, and the first to declare independence in 1990 when the bloc collapsed.
Members of both NATO and the European Union since 2004, Lithuania is among Ukraine's staunchest supporters in both blocs and the first in NATO to provide weapons to Ukraine weeks before the Russian invasion.
Buses in Vilnius display Ukrainian flags and signs reading "Vilnius loves Ukraine." Streets are decorated with NATO and Ukrainian flags.
State-owned energy company Ignitis, the largest listed company in the Baltics, topped its summit venue-facing office with large banners calling for Ukrainian membership in NATO.
Reporting by Anna Pruchnicka, Olena Harmash, Andrius Sytas, Lewis Macdonald; Writing by Andrius Sytas; Editing by Howard Goller.
Source: Fijian Broadcasting Cooperation
