Nato summit: Ukraine's future membership to be discussed by leaders in Vilnius

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Nato leaders are gathering in Lithuania for a crucial summit that could shape the direction of the war in Ukraine and the future of the Western alliance.

The 31 allies hope to show Russia they have the resolve to support Ukraine militarily for the long term.

They arrive with a welcome boost after Turkey dropped its objections to Sweden joining the alliance.

But there remains disagreement over what to say about Ukraine's own ambitions of future membership.

It is thought some allies will promise Kyiv new security guarantees designed to deter future Russian aggression. They will also discuss providing more weapons and ammunition.

On the membership issue, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky wants Nato to say Ukraine could join as soon as possible after the fighting ends - setting out explicitly how and when this could be achieved.

 

But some Nato nations are reluctant to go too far, fearing the promise of near-automatic membership could give Russia an incentive both to escalate and drag out the war.

 

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