Ukrainian military forces fire towards Russian positions in the Kharkiv region. AP
After 967 days of war, Ukrainian authorities have reported that Russia launched an attack on energy infrastructure in the Mykolaiv region, leaving some consumers without power. The regional governor confirmed no casualties.
Furthermore, the Kiev army reported that their air defenses shot down 22 out of the 56 drones sent by Moscow. The air force lost track of 27 drones, with two heading towards Belarus.
Volodymyr Zelensky will also participate in a meeting of NATO Defense Ministers in Brussels.
Division over Ukraine's urgency to join NATO
NATO countries expressed different positions on Thursday regarding Ukraine's urgency expressed in its 'Victory Plan' to become a member of the Atlantic Alliance in order to ensure its security and that of Europe against Russia, although they supported its eventual accession.
Estonian Defense Minister, Hanno Pevkur, stated that his country has always maintained the position that "the only security guarantee" for Ukraine is for the country to become a NATO member. "I really hope it doesn't just stay on paper or in the plan, that we see actions and see some next steps," he expressed.
The Swedish counterpart, Pal Jonson, was more cautious and said they take note and welcome the 'Victory Plan', which "will be discussed tonight and then we will see how the discussions evolve."
Latvian Minister, Andris Spruds, mentioned that they will need to examine Zelenski's plan in more detail, and although he made it clear that his country supports Ukraine's accession to NATO, ultimately the decision lies with the 32 members and must be unanimous.
Lithuanian Minister, Laurynas Kasciunas, stated that the invitation to join the Alliance "is the first stage and, if you extend the invitation, it is a page in history (...), a point of no return," and when asked if he would now extend that invitation, he replied "yes, absolutely," although he admitted that there are "many approaches and we have to find common ground."
Zelensky calls for unity from the EU on his Victory Plan
The President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelensky, urged his European partners on Thursday to show "unity" around his Victory Plan, in order to be able to convince "other leaders" to also support his requests, such as authorizing Kiev to attack Russian territory with long-range weapons.
"Yes, in the past we asked for permission to use long-range weapons and everyone opposed it," but "now we need some partners to move forward," Zelensky said in statements to the press upon his arrival at the European leaders' summit, where he will present his plan.
The plan also aims for the US, UK, France, Italy, and Germany to deploy non-nuclear strategic weaponry in Ukraine to deter Russia and emphasizes Kiev's willingness to join NATO once the war is over.
The Ukrainian President also urged EU leaders to approve "as quickly as possible" the loan of up to 35 billion euros that they are willing to provide, within the framework of the G7 agreement.
Rutte emphasizes that Ukraine will be a NATO member, although he cannot specify when
NATO Secretary General, Mark Rutte, stated on Thursday that Ukraine will be a member of NATO in the future, although he acknowledged that he cannot currently specify the exact date when the country will join the transatlantic organization.
Upon his arrival at the NATO Defense Ministers' meeting held today and tomorrow in Brussels, Rutte said that it currently seems that Ukraine will become the 33rd ally, as NATO currently has 32 members, although he admitted that another country could potentially join the transatlantic organization before Kiev.
"Ukraine will be a NATO member in the future," he declared, adding that the support initiatives for Kiev agreed upon by the Alliance itself and the bilateral security guarantees from NATO member states to Ukraine constitute "a bridge" towards the country's accession to the transatlantic organization.
Lithuania calls on Ukraine's partners to grant its demands
The President of Lithuania, Gitanas Nauseda, one of the countries that strongly supports Ukraine in the European Union, urged his European partners on Thursday to accept the demands of Ukraine's 'Victory Plan', including the possibility of attacking Russian territory and joining NATO.
"We are not able to make decisions and let them implement purely defensive operations," Nauseda said upon his arrival at the summit that European leaders are holding today in Brussels, where Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky will present his plan.
Nauseda stated that Kiev's request to its partners to provide long-range weapons with permission to continue attacking Russian territory is simply aimed at "reducing Russian offensive potential" against Ukraine.
The Ukrainian President also called on NATO partners to authorize Ukraine's entry into the Alliance. In this regard, Nauseda recalled that at both the NATO summit in Vilnius last year and in Washington this year, Ukraine's entry was not authorized, emphasizing the importance of reaching a consensus on this matter.