Ukrainian defense minister: We understand Ukraine won't become NATO member at Vilnius summit

MOSCOW. May 19 (Interfax) - Ukraine expects "a tangible message" on future partnership with NATO from the upcoming summit in Vilnius, Ukrainian Defense Minister Alexei Reznikov said.

"When we tell our partners that we expect the Vilnius summit to send a tangible message on further future partnership, we aren't talking about the open door policy. As our President Vladimir Zelensky said, 'The door was opened to us at the Bucharest summit in 2008, but nobody knows where that door is'," Ukrainian media quoted Reznikov as saying at a Ukrainian-American forum on Friday.

"In my view, the NATO countries should be interested in earmarking its resources at least for improving Ukraine's defense capability as its eastern shield. Therefore, our admission to NATO de jure is a question of political will. We understand this won't happen at the Vilnius summit, but this definitely must happen after it," Reznikov said.