NATO expects Zelensky to attend the Madrid summit in person

• Ukraine Scholz, Macron and Draghi will travel to kyiv on Thursday to stage European unity

Since February of this year, Ukrainian President

has repeatedly turned to European and world leaders asking for help, arms, boycotts of Russia, sanctions and compromise.

He has scolded, insulted and pleaded with them in group interventions at European Councils or NATO Summits.

Or in speeches to the parliaments of almost all its partners, allies and neighbors.

Until now, Zelensky has always done it by videoconference, because although he moves over and over again throughout his country, even approaching the battlefronts,

.

But if the circumstances allow it -the evolution of the war but also the security measures- NATO hopes that at the end of the month it will attend the Madrid summit in person to deliver its message in person.

"The President is invited to address all leaders. He is more than welcome to come in person, but if he can't, he will do so again by videoconference.

from him and allies are very committed to their support and showing their solidarity, not only with words but with deeds. The president already spoke to us at the last Summit and will do so again in Madrid in two weeks," said the secretary general of the Alliance,

The NATO defense ministers are meeting today and tomorrow in Brussels to analyze the security situation on the eastern flank, to listen in person to the Ukrainian demands for arms and ammunition, and to prepare for the Madrid Summit, in which the called '

', the allied roadmap for the next decade.

The text is being negotiated and discussed, and the Alliance hopes to have it ready the weekend before the meeting in our country.

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Zelensky's physical presence does not change the substance of the meeting, but everyone in headquarters and capitals understands

.

The president has not been able to leave the country, or has not wanted to in the midst of Russian disinformation campaigns that constantly point to his flight, but Alliance sources point out that "if done, there is no better opportunity" than to be surrounded, supported and backed by 30 of the world's leading democracies.

"

He will decide it and only he and 24 hours before, depending on the situation that is impossible to predict. I am not optimistic, but it would be an incredible image," explains an allied source.

The 30 have already discussed the possibility, there are different scenarios for a possible displacement, which would require a huge deployment to guarantee their safety, not only to leave but to return to Ukraine.

But there will be no confirmation until the last moment.

Security and expansion

Ministers will focus this week on how to address

Stoltenberg has defended the allied efforts in recent months to provide everything possible, despite the fact that Kiev regrets that they have only 10% of what is requested and have made a very clear list of what is necessary to resist, starting with

"We will see the minister to discuss how to improve the delivery. Allies and partners have given unprecedented support in recent months and have supported since 2014 by training Ukrainian troops. They are better prepared and stronger than then and it is one of the reasons that they have resisted the invasion. Since February we have gone further with more advanced equipment, heavy weapons systems and training outside Ukraine. It is always important to coordinate and we are in consultations to see what they need, how to send the weapons and how to maintain them so that make a difference. That's what we'll talk about today with the minister. We want to modernize them to go from Soviet-era equipment to modern NATO equipment," said the secretary general in his speech to the media.

On Sweden and Finland there is no progress at the moment.

Turkey continues to block the start of formal talks for an accession process.

Stoltenberg has been in recent days in the Nordic countries and his chief of staff in Ankara to listen to Turkish complaints.

Negotiations are under way, and a lot of pressure from Washington, but the objective that both countries can be in Madrid with the legal status of guests is complicated.

They will be sure in the session that will be held with partners like Georgia or Ukraine, but also Australia and New Zealand.

And at the dinner organized by President

but in order to be in all the sessions, the formal process would have to be completed.

Sources from the Alliance do not rule out that there will be some final drama and approval can be achieved in Madrid on the eve of the Summit, but it is not clear.

The normal thing would be for it to be done before among ambassadors, but if the signature came from the leaders themselves, it would give much more strength to the act of rapprochement.

Turkey has not backed down yet

.

He hopes to get concrete things out, like changes to the arms embargo policy, and he has serious possibilities.

"We maintain close and constant contacts. We are very aware of Turkey's concerns and we are looking for ways to find a solution as soon as possible so that both can be members immediately. I can't say exactly when, but in NATO when there are differences we consult, discuss and we find a way to move forward", said the Norwegian.

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