**Ukraine’s President Zelensky Plans to Discuss NATO Invitation with Biden**
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has announced that he plans to call US President Joe Biden to discuss his country’s invitation to join the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO).
The announcement was made after a meeting in Kyiv between Zelensky and Friedrich Merz, a German opposition leader. During their discussion, Zelensky emphasized the need for clear security guarantees and a timeline for Ukraine’s integration into NATO and the European Union.
Zelensky noted that discussions with US President-elect Donald Trump are premature, as Trump does not have the authority to address such matters. Instead, he plans to call Biden in the near future to raise the issue of Ukraine’s NATO invitation.
**Openness to International Military Forces**
The Ukrainian president also expressed openness to a proposal by French President Emmanuel Macron to deploy international military forces in Ukraine. This could potentially bridge the gap before Ukraine becomes a full member of NATO. The UK and France are reportedly considering peacekeeper deployments after a possible ceasefire, but German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock has not ruled out such an idea.
**Opposition from Some NATO Members**
However, divisions remain within NATO regarding Ukraine’s membership bid. The US, Germany, Hungary, and Slovakia are among the key members opposing an invitation at this stage. Despite NATO’s assertion that Ukraine is on an “irreversible” path to membership, Ukrainian officials continue to press for a formal invitation as a signal of solidarity and commitment from NATO allies.
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