EXC: Zelensky behind the scenes at NATO summit after bashing ‘absurd’ delay in membership

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky urged Kiev’s Western allies to open the door to full NATO membership after criticizing the organization for “absurd” delays in granting it a place in the Mutual Defense Club .

In a fiery speech in the Lithuanian capital, Vilnius, Zelensky, clad in his now trademark olive green military gear, addressed a crowd of thousands after arriving for crucial talks with the 31-nation alliance.

“NATO will give security to Ukraine, Ukraine will make NATO stronger,” said the former actor, flanked by his wife Olena Zelenska and Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda.

His speech was delivered in Ukrainian and then narrated by a Lithuanian translator. led to cheers from the audience.

He evoked the long-running battle for Bakhmut by raising a Ukrainian army flag from the eastern Ukrainian city.

“Bakhmut is one of the most decisive battles for freedom in Europe, and that’s how our children and grandchildren will remember it,” Zelensky said.

Onlookers waved Ukrainian flags and chanted “Slava Ukraini” (Glory to Ukraine) as the 45-year-old wartime leader demanded that his country be given a clear path to join.

He thanked Lithuania for its “clear, honest and courageous stance” in supporting Kiev’s bid before his country’s national anthem was performed.

Leaving the stage at the city’s Lukiškės Square – which had been forcibly renamed Lenin Square during Lithuania’s Soviet occupation – Zelensky briefly exchanged with the country’s president Gitanas Nausėda before being taken away by his military security detail.

The Ukrainian leader ignored questions from DailyMail.com about whether he would pressure Biden for US stock of the ATACMS long-range missile system.

Earlier in the day, Zelensky had lashed out at what he called an “absurd” delay in setting a timeline for full membership in the Brussels-based alliance.

Kiev and NATO members in Eastern Europe believe Moscow will only be deterred by bringing Ukraine under its umbrella of collective defense.

Key powers such as the United States and Germany have been hesitant to go much further than a vow in 2008 that Ukraine will join one day, without setting a timetable.

Zelensky will hold talks with Joe Biden and French President Emmanuel Macron, where he will advocate for full membership.

In the meantime, the US, UK, France and Germany will provide a series of legally binding security guarantees to protect Ukraine from future Russian aggression.

a paper by ex-NATO chief Ander Fogh Rasmussen and his chief of staff Andriy Yermak last year suggested a Kyiv Security Compact, effectively membership in a shadow alliance, to protect the country and its people.

It said it should include the US, UK, Canada, Poland, Italy, Germany, France, Australia and Turkey, as well as the Baltics, Central and Eastern Europe.

Ukraine first became eligible for NATO membership in 2008, but was never offered a formal process to join for fear Russia would be provoked by such a move.

Under Article 5 of the Alliance’s Mutual Defense Treaty, an attack on one NATO ally is considered an attack on all.

But it is not automatic and the clause requires the approval of all NATO countries to be activated.

The thorny issue of Ukrainian membership is not the only rift overshadowing the two-day meeting, which has raised questions about the US decision to send controversial cluster bombs to Ukraine.

British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak was among a chorus of voices expressing concern about shipping the highly lethal weapons to the war-torn country.

The hope is that the weapons can help bolster the Ukrainian counter-offensive as troops are running low on ammunition.

But in a response to DailyMail.com, Sullivan rejected claims that the 31-nation military alliance was split over its support for the Ukrainian military.

“I would say rumors of the death of the NATO unit were greatly exaggerated,” he said. “Vladimir Putin counted on the West to crack, NATO to crack and the Transatlantic Alliance to crack and he has been disappointed at every turn.”

The Russian tyrant will be “deeply disappointed” by what emerges from the meeting in Lithuania, Sullivan added.

There was better news for Ukraine on some fronts: a training program for F-16 fighter jets was formally signed and French President Emmanuel Macron said he would ship France’s long-range SCALP missiles to Kiev’s armed forces.

It follows Britain’s decision in May to have its own version of the missile system, known as Storm Shadows, become the first country to provide long-range missiles and help the Ukrainian military drive out the Russian invaders.

Speaking exclusively to DailyMail.com, British Foreign Secretary James Cleverly welcomed the announcement.

“If other countries in the (NATO) alliance are able to make donations in different forms, that’s great,” said the top British diplomat. “There’s no reason why we should think otherwise.”

Macron’s move could see Biden face calls from Ukrainian hawks in Congress to boost US supplies of ATACMS missiles.

Washington is the largest financier of Ukraine’s war effort, providing more than $40 billion in military aid.

But the White House has repeatedly refused to allow the 190-mile missiles, fearing they could strike deep within Russia’s internationally recognized borders.

Officials have argued that sending the guns would be an escalating move that could provoke Vladimir Putin to lash out.