٠٠:٠٢:٢٨Mandatory credit: NATO TV
NATO chief Mark Rutte refused to publicly back Ukraine's call for an immediate invitation to join the alliance - or discuss ongoing talks between allies - during a briefing in Brussels on Wednesday.
It came after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky made the demand while unveiling his 'Victory Plan' for the conflict with Russia to his parliament earlier.
"President Zelensky today just presented the 'Victory Plan' with a vow to get an invitation for NATO membership," he was asked. "Is that something you agree with? Is that something you will work on? Convincing allies and other leaders to sign up for that?"
"NATO in Washington decided to make the path towards NATO membership for Ukraine an irreversible path, that's clearly stated, and we are in close contact with allies, with Ukraine to see how we can take the next steps, how to do that in a way which is also successful which is fruitful etc," he replied.
"Obviously, these are talks I cannot give you all the insights about that's impossible in a press conference like this, but the 'Victory Plan', of course, we very much are debating with them and using every opportunity to take that one step by step further," he added.
Zelensky's plan also included the use of long-range weaponry supplied by allies - which Ukraine has repeatedly been calling for, as well as a 'non-nuclear strategic deterrent package' in the country, protection for Ukraine's natural resources and replacing some US troops across Europe with Ukrainian forces.
The speech came after his latest European tour, which media outlets reported had failed to illicit more commitments from allies.
Asked about the speech, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitri Peskov said it was 'most likely the same US plan to fight us to the last Ukrainian that Zelensky disguised and called a peace plan' and claimed that a real plan would require Kiev to realise 'the futility of the policy that they are pursuing'.
'That's impossible in a press conference' - Rutte refuses to share talks between allies, Kiev as Zelensky calls for immediate NATO invitation
NATO chief Mark Rutte refused to publicly back Ukraine's call for an immediate invitation to join the alliance - or discuss ongoing talks between allies - during a briefing in Brussels on Wednesday.
It came after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky made the demand while unveiling his 'Victory Plan' for the conflict with Russia to his parliament earlier.
"President Zelensky today just presented the 'Victory Plan' with a vow to get an invitation for NATO membership," he was asked. "Is that something you agree with? Is that something you will work on? Convincing allies and other leaders to sign up for that?"
"NATO in Washington decided to make the path towards NATO membership for Ukraine an irreversible path, that's clearly stated, and we are in close contact with allies, with Ukraine to see how we can take the next steps, how to do that in a way which is also successful which is fruitful etc," he replied.
"Obviously, these are talks I cannot give you all the insights about that's impossible in a press conference like this, but the 'Victory Plan', of course, we very much are debating with them and using every opportunity to take that one step by step further," he added.
Zelensky's plan also included the use of long-range weaponry supplied by allies - which Ukraine has repeatedly been calling for, as well as a 'non-nuclear strategic deterrent package' in the country, protection for Ukraine's natural resources and replacing some US troops across Europe with Ukrainian forces.
The speech came after his latest European tour, which media outlets reported had failed to illicit more commitments from allies.
Asked about the speech, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitri Peskov said it was 'most likely the same US plan to fight us to the last Ukrainian that Zelensky disguised and called a peace plan' and claimed that a real plan would require Kiev to realise 'the futility of the policy that they are pursuing'.
Mandatory credit: NATO TV
NATO chief Mark Rutte refused to publicly back Ukraine's call for an immediate invitation to join the alliance - or discuss ongoing talks between allies - during a briefing in Brussels on Wednesday.
It came after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky made the demand while unveiling his 'Victory Plan' for the conflict with Russia to his parliament earlier.
"President Zelensky today just presented the 'Victory Plan' with a vow to get an invitation for NATO membership," he was asked. "Is that something you agree with? Is that something you will work on? Convincing allies and other leaders to sign up for that?"
"NATO in Washington decided to make the path towards NATO membership for Ukraine an irreversible path, that's clearly stated, and we are in close contact with allies, with Ukraine to see how we can take the next steps, how to do that in a way which is also successful which is fruitful etc," he replied.
"Obviously, these are talks I cannot give you all the insights about that's impossible in a press conference like this, but the 'Victory Plan', of course, we very much are debating with them and using every opportunity to take that one step by step further," he added.
Zelensky's plan also included the use of long-range weaponry supplied by allies - which Ukraine has repeatedly been calling for, as well as a 'non-nuclear strategic deterrent package' in the country, protection for Ukraine's natural resources and replacing some US troops across Europe with Ukrainian forces.
The speech came after his latest European tour, which media outlets reported had failed to illicit more commitments from allies.
Asked about the speech, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitri Peskov said it was 'most likely the same US plan to fight us to the last Ukrainian that Zelensky disguised and called a peace plan' and claimed that a real plan would require Kiev to realise 'the futility of the policy that they are pursuing'.