Rumors debunked: Zelensky's push for NATO support strengthens

The spokesperson for the President of Ukraine, Serhii Nikiforov, stated that media reports suggesting seven countries oppose inviting Ukraine to NATO are not true.

"These rumors are beneficial to those who want to create a false impression that Ukraine’s accession does not have broad support among the Alliance members. In fact, the idea of inviting Ukraine is supported by the vast majority of member states, and active advocacy efforts are underway for the rest," said Nikiforov, as quoted by Suspilne.

He added that the invitation is the first point of the Ukrainian president's victory plan and is a reliable path to a just and lasting peace.

Earlier, the portal Politico, citing anonymous U.S. officials and NATO sources, reported that at least seven member states, including the United States and Germany, are not agreeing to invite Ukraine to join the military-political bloc.

Meanwhile, President Volodymyr Zelensky said at a meeting with journalists that most Alliance countries support the first point of the "victory plan," which is to invite Ukraine to NATO before the end of the war.

"Today we see support from France. We understand that the British will support us, and we believe that the Italians will support us. The U.S. will have an impact on this….We believe that they are consolidating their thoughts on NATO and this has an impact on, for example, Hungary and Slovakia," said the Ukrainian president.

Zelensky did admit that Germany is skeptical about Ukraine’s accession to NATO, but, as he emphasized, the position is now "softer."