Lithuanian president to meet Zelensky to discuss NATO summit

Ukraine's staunch European ally, Lithuania, will be purchasing air defense systems for Ukraine and meeting with the Ukrainian head of state to discuss NATO.

Lithuania's President Gitanas Nauseda speaks as he attends the European Union leaders' summit in Brussels, Belgium, October 20, 2022. (photo credit: REUTERS/PIROSCHKA VAN DE WOUW)
Lithuania's President Gitanas Nauseda speaks as he attends the European Union leaders' summit in Brussels, Belgium, October 20, 2022.
(photo credit: REUTERS/PIROSCHKA VAN DE WOUW)

Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda will meet Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy in Kyiv on Wednesday to discuss NATO as Ukraine seeks to enter the alliance.

Zelenskiy on Tuesday stepped up calls for Ukraine to receive a "political invitation" to join NATO at a July 11-12 summit of alliance members in Lithuania.

NATO members are close to agreeing incremental steps to strengthen ties with Ukraine by the Vilnius summit but have yet to resolve differences over how to address Ukraine's desire for membership.

Lithuania has been one of the staunchest supporters of Ukraine in NATO and the EU, and has been calling for accepting it into both. Lithuania is buying NASAMS air defense systems for Ukraine from a Norwegian company.

The presidents will discuss "the NATO summit agenda," Ukraine's European Union membership negotiations, and European support for Ukraine, Nauseda's office said in a statement.

 Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky attends a press conference during a meeting of the European Political Community at Mimi Castle in Bulboaca, Moldova June 1, 2023. (credit: VLADISLAV CULIOMZA / REUTERS)
Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky attends a press conference during a meeting of the European Political Community at Mimi Castle in Bulboaca, Moldova June 1, 2023. (credit: VLADISLAV CULIOMZA / REUTERS)

What is next for Nauseda

Nauseda will then head to a European Union leaders' summit in Brussels on Thursday and Friday.