Zelensky believes NATO needs Ukraine, Kuleba expects Ukraine to move forward to membership at Vilnius summit

MOSCOW. April 10 (Interfax) - Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky has said he believes NATO can guarantee the protection of international order only together with Ukraine.

"The Lithuanian Seimas has admitted that Ukraine should be invited to become a NATO member. Precisely this year, at the summit in Vilnius. It is only together with Ukraine that the alliance will be able to guarantee real protection in Europe and international rules-based order," Ukrainian media quoted Zelensky as saying in his video address on Saturday.

"We're working on that," he said.

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmitry Kuleba said he expected the NATO summit in Vilnius to focus on Kiev's advancement toward membership.

"The pearl in this crown is the very issue regarding our membership, that is, how we're moving toward membership," Ukrainian media quoted Kuleba as saying during a national TV marathon on Friday evening.

The summit participants are expected to "make a lot of other decisions, and certain security guarantees for Ukraine are being prepared," he said.

"Any decision meaning that we switch from the 'the door is open' phrase to the 'Ukraine is at the doorstep of NATO membership' phrase will be seen as a successful result," Kuleba said.

The next NATO summit in Vilnius is scheduled for July 11-12.