VILNIUS, Lithuania — President Joe Biden will meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky at the NATO summit on Wednesday, it has been confirmed.
The Story: Zelensky’s attendance at the summit had been in question amid Ukraine’s ongoing war with Russia but he is expected to make his case why the country should join NATO.
- Ukraine joining NATO has prompted some division among other world leaders as Biden looks to keep allies united behind Zelensky.
- The meeting comes after the U.S. President said that he believes Ukraine is not currently ready to join NATO.
- “I don’t think there is unanimity in NATO about whether or not to bring Ukraine into the NATO family now, at this moment, in the middle of a war,” Biden told CNN’s Fareed Zakari.
Politico was the first to report on Biden’s meeting with Zelensky.
Historic meeting: Back in February, Biden made a surprise visit to Kyiv, announcing a half-billion dollar assistance package to Ukraine.
- “One year later, Kyiv stands. And Ukraine stands. Democracy stands,” Biden said at the time.
Going deeper: Zelensky previously told ABC News that he would not be attending the summit, citing security concerns.
- “It would be an important message to say that NATO is not afraid of Russia,” Zelensky said. “Ukraine should get clear security guarantees while it is not in NATO. Only under these conditions, our meeting would be meaningful.”
- At NATO, Biden is expected to get pushback from allies over providing Ukraine with cluster bombs, which other countries have banned and opposed.
