Ukraine needs to be shown how to enter NATO's door – Nauseda after Biden meeting

VILNIUS - NATO countries should show in Vilnius a concrete mechanism for Ukraine to enter NATO's open door, Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda said on Tuesday after his meeting with US President Joe Biden.

"The president (Joe Biden - BNS) is optimistic on the Ukraine issue and says that certain things need to be done to make Ukraine's NATO membership a reality. But today the United States, and I quote him, is Ukraine's biggest supporter and will continue to support Ukraine until victory," the Lithuanian leader told reporters after his meeting with his American counterpart.

"The key thing is for us to find a clear way to open NATO's open door during this summit. Stating that NATO's door is open is one thing, but giving a concrete mechanism to go trough that door is a completely different thing," Nauseda said.

In his words, NATO leaders now agree that the Membership Action Plan for Ukraine should be scrapped. "This means that the process is halved," the Lithuanian president told reporters, adding that Ukraine will also be assessed in terms of the implementation of reforms, not only military ones, but also those on the rule of law and democracy.

"I believe this time we will definitely go at least a few steps further than Bucharest and even Madrid by providing a clear prospect for Ukraine to become a member once the right conditions are in place. We hope this to be a thing of the near future," Nauseda said, referring to the previous NATO summits.

Nauseda also said he and the US president discussed the agenda of the NATO summit in Vilnius.