OAN Newsroom
UPDATED 12:02 AM PT – Friday September 30, 2022
Ukraine is attempting to expedite their enrollment into NATO.
On Friday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced that Ukraine will submit an “accelerated” application to join the military alliance. This comes after Russian President Vladimir Putin made it known that Russia annexed four Ukrainian regions that they occupied in conflict.
“We trust each other, we help each other and we protect each other. This is what the Alliance is. De facto. Today, Ukraine is applying to make it de jure,” Zelensky said.
Putin made it clear that he will defend Russia’s new territory by “all available means.”
Ukraine had previously applied to join the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), however their request was not approved due to its borders not being officially defined.
In order to join NATO, Ukraine will require unanimous approval by all 30 member countries. The acceptance of Ukraine into NATO would mean that other NATO members would be obligated to help defend Ukraine against Russia.
