On the first day of the NATO summit, which began on Tuesday in the Lithuanian capital, Volodymyr Zelensky objected that Ukraine is not expected to be invited to the North Atlantic alliance.

According to the Ukrainian president, who is in Vilnius, this indecision is a sign of the West's weakness. Adding salt to the wounds of the Ukrainian president, Turkish President Erdogan announced on Monday evening that he supports Sweden's NATO membership even before the summit.

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg met Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson on the eve of the NATO summit in Vilnius with a polite smile but in a tense atmosphere. Previously, the Turkish head of state stated that his country would only ratify Sweden's NATO membership if

if the European Union restarts accession negotiations with Turkey.

At the end of the meeting, however, the Turkish and Swedish politicians shook hands for a long time in front of the cameras. Minutes later, Jens Stoltenberg announced that the Turkish president will ask the Turkish National Assembly to approve Sweden's NATO membership as soon as possible.

It is not known exactly why Erdogan changed his mind after the year-long tug-of-war. In the press release issued on the agreement, only one sentence indicates that Sweden will support the revival of Turkey's EU accession process, which stalled five years ago.

"It is well known that Sweden has always been a supporter of close relations between Europe and Turkey. Now, above all, we are advocating the strengthening of economic ties, the modernization of the customs union and favorable visa regulations"

- the Swedish Prime Minister explained to the reporters, according to whom it is a more comprehensive agreement.

There is no lack of promise

The first day of the summit went according to preliminary expectations. The arriving heads of state and government - like the NATO Secretary General - assured Ukraine of their permanent and firm support. For example, French President Emmanuel Macron announced that France is supplying long-range SCALP missiles capable of measuring depth strikes to the Ukrainian army. And Germany promised additional armored vehicles, missiles, tanks and artillery equipment worth more than HUF 260 billion.

Based on the preliminary statements, it could also be assumed that Ukraine will not be invited to join the alliance for the time being.

The vast majority of member states believe that Ukraine has a place in NATO, but this can only be discussed in substance after the end of the war. Therefore, they decided to help the Eastern European country in the long-term transformation in accordance with NATO standards.

The joining process will be shortened, but an exact schedule has not yet been determined.

"We have confirmed that Ukraine will become a member of NATO, and with a joint decision we will waive the implementation of the membership action plan. Thus, Ukraine's accession process is shortened from two steps to one step. We also made it clear that

Ukraine will be invited to NATO when the allies agree and the conditions are right"

Jens Stoltenberg said on Tuesday evening, then added: a new NATO-Ukraine council will be established, in which they will participate as equal parties. Volodymyr Zelensky will also be present at Wednesday's opening meeting.

The Ukrainian president's plane landed in Vilnius on Tuesday afternoon.

The politician previously responded to the allies' promises in a sharp statement published on his social media page. He called the lack of a specific schedule unprecedented and absurd,

according to him, this indecision is a sign of weakness, which, as he put it, "encourages Russia to continue terror."

Early in the evening, Volodymyr Zelenskyi and his wife took part in the outdoor concert organized in support of Ukraine in the company of the Lithuanian presidential couple. In a short speech, the head of state thanked the Lithuanians and stated: NATO provides security to Ukraine, and Ukraine strengthens the alliance.

The Hungarian position continues to advocate peace

The plane of the Hungarian delegation landed at the Vilnius airport on Tuesday morning, from where the delegation continued to the location of the two-day summit. Hungary is represented at the negotiations by Prime Minister Viktor Orbán. The Hungarian delegation includes Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Péter Szijjártó and Minister of National Defense Kristóf Szalay-Bobrovniczky.

In a video uploaded to his social media page, the Prime Minister called the Russian-Ukrainian war the most important issue of the Vilnius summit. Viktor Orbán emphasized that the Hungarian position remains unchanged:

What is needed in Ukraine is not weapons, but a ceasefire and peace.

"Peace negotiations should start as soon as possible. The Hungarian position is clear, since the war is in our neighborhood, and tens of thousands of Hungarian people are in direct danger because of the Hungarians living in Transcarpathia."

- emphasized Viktor Orbán, and then added: Hungary is pushing for NATO not to change its previous position, because it is a military defense military alliance that was created to protect its member states, and not to carry out military actions in other countries.

"The Hungarian position at the beginning of the negotiations completely coincides with NATO's position, since NATO does not send troops, does not send weapons, does not train combat military units, but rather tries to strengthen the defense of its own member states. This is necessary, this is right and Hungary will support this"

Viktor Orbán stated.

"The current draft of the final statement of the summit does not include a date or a specific schedule for Ukraine's NATO accession"

said Péter Szijjártó.

The foreign minister emphasized that the irresponsible members would set a date for Ukraine's accession, but the responsible ones - including Hungary - cautioned caution, because

admitting a country at war could even lead to a world war.

"No commitment of any kind has taken place here, according to the current situation, it is not taking place in relation to Ukraine in connection with a future NATO membership. I think that according to the current state of things, there is a good chance to avoid an absolutely irresponsible decision, to avoid a decision that would involve a huge risk of escalation of the war"–

said Péter Szijjártó.

Joe Biden surprised again

The President of the United States, when he arrived at the line of heads of state and government who lined up for the joint group photo of the heads of state and government participating in the trial, the so-called "family photo",

he extended his hand exclusively to Viktor Orbán.

Featured image: Viktor Orbán's Facebook page