Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced on Friday that his country is applying “Under an accelerated procedure” to become a member of NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization). US President Biden responded Friday afternoon in the White House, "America's fully prepared with our NATO allies to defend every single inch of NATO territory... every single inch... so Mr. Putin, don't misunderstand what I'm saying. Every inch."
US believes the process for Ukraine to join NATO "Should be taken up at a different time,” President Biden's national security adviser Jake Sullivan said, "The United States has been clear for decades that we support an open-door policy for NATO" and "Any decision on NATO membership is between the 30 allies and the countries aspiring to join."
NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said the member-states of the alliance support Ukraine's “right to choose its own path,” but cautioned that any decision on membership has to be taken up by all 30 members of the alliance.
In Russia, President Vladimir Putin of Russia says "victory will be ours" at the Red Square in Moscow after declaring annexation of Ukrainian regions. President Putin also said "We have become stronger because we are together. With us is the truth, and indeed, the power! And that means victory! Victory will be ours!"
Credit: Office of the president of Ukraine, Getty Images, CNN, NATO